Chairman's Message
May, 2021
The days are getting longer and slightly warmer. That means Ohio preps golfers are finally able to practice outside. 2020 is thankfully behind as we look forward to this year's Canterbury Kiely Cup .
Those of you who are interested in watching elite boys golf are in for a treat this coming September 19 & 20th. The date marks the 16th playing of the Canterbury Kiely Cup, established in 2005 in honor of our long-time caddy master, mentor, priest, and assistant golf professional, Mike Kiely. According to the Ohio coaches who have written and spoken to me, the Kiely Cup is the tournament their players look forward to most—right behind the OHSAA State tournament.
The level of competition is off the charts, also. Each year we invite the fifteen strongest Ohio high school boys’ golf teams from all three divisions to compete over 36 holes on Sunday and Monday. To give you an idea of how accomplished many of these high school golfers have become, four former Kiely Cup alumni dominated the 2021 U. S. Open Local Qualifier for Greater Cleveland recently, at Beechmont Country Club. Kent State junior Jared Wilson (Columbiana HS), a 2015 Kiely Cup alumnus earned medalist honors by posting seven birdies for an outstanding 65! KSU sophomore Cade Breitenstine (Green HS), another 2015 Kiely Cup alumnus, tied for second along with 2013 Kiely Cup medalist Ian Holt (Stow Monroe HS)—who still rates Canterbury his favorite golf course—with a pair of 3-under 68’s. Tyler McHugh (Walsh Jesuit HS), our 2011 Kiely Cup medalist finished a shot back with a 2-under 69 to secure the fourth and final qualifying spot.
This past year the Northeast Ohio Golf Coaches Association also named the following players to their 2020 First Team … all of whom will be competing this September: Topher Reed – St. Ignatius (All-Ohio); Nick Piesen – St. Ignatius (All-Ohio); Jack Vojtko – Hoban (All-Ohio); Solomon Petrie – Hoban (All-Ohio); Ben Cors – Walsh Jesuit (All-Ohio); Connor Malicki – St. Ignatius; Bradley Chill – St. Ignatius; Josh Wright – Hoban; Nolan Haynes – Hoban, and Coop Palmer – Hudson.
If you can find the time, do yourself a favor and stop by to watch some of the best Ohio prep golfers make an appearance. Who knows, one or more of them could qualify for the U. S. Open before we know it.
-Craig Fraser
15th Annual Canterbury Kiely Cup a Photo Finish !
Defending champion Dublin Jerome, newcomer Columbus Academy and Lakota East ended the 36-hole Kiely Cup boys’ golf tournament a mere one stroke apart. With fifteen schools competing and 75 players playing in threesomes, Division II powerhouse Columbus Academy prevailed with a score of 618 (307-311).
Five of the last six Kiely Cup champions hail from southern Ohio.
Columbus Academy Vikings coach Craig Yakscoe said his team was not intimidated by the strong field at the start under Sunday’s cloudy and cool conditions. Despite da Browns troubles that day, Monday’s weather was perfect—bright sun and 75 degrees.
The venerable Shaker Heights course played fast and hard. Balls ran out and Canterbury’s fast, undulating greens took their toll.
St. Ignatius
Led by sophomore sensation Topher Reed (79-73), seniors Andrew Kaye (77-77) and Ross Williamson (84-77), and standout freshman Nick Piesen (80-77), two-time Kiely Cup champ St. Ignatius produced the low score on Monday (304), fourteen strokes better than their opening round. Iggy’s new head coach, P.J. Meyers, and legendary assistant Bob Cook had to be asking themselves where those scores were on Sunday.
Lakota East
Jeff Combs’ Lakota East team could have easily taken home the hardware. Joe Wilson IV, the Thunderhawks’ sophomore phenom, captured medalist honors with a pair of back-to-back par 72’s, despite leaving three additional strokes on the edge of the cup on Canterbury’s final holes on Monday—the 590-yard, par 5 16th; the 230-yard, par 3 17th; and the 400-yard, par 4, uphill 18th.
Keynote
During the annual banquet on Sunday evening, the players and their parents and friends were treated to a Northeast Ohio legend. Herb Page, the 41-year veteran men’s and women’s golf coach at Kent State University, regaled the audience as keynote speaker. The dean of the Mid American Conference, Herb coached the Golden Flashes to 22 MAC men's titles, four top-10 NCAA finishes, and three NCAA regional titles while coaching 28 All-Americans. Seven of his former players are currently competing on professional tours. Following remarks by Canterbury’s caddy master, the inimitable Mike Kiely, Herb explained what it takes to elevate your game to the next level, proudly mentioned four former Golden Flashes—Hudson’s John Hahn and Will Kurtz, Walsh Jesuit’s Chase Johnson, and Stow-Munroe’s Ian Holt were all former Kiely Cup medalist.
This year marked the 15th annual Kiely Cup. From 2005-2013, the invitational event was an 18-hole tournament. It switched to 36-holes when it was decided that elite high school players needed the opportunity to play a collegiate run tournament.
The days are getting longer and slightly warmer. That means Ohio preps golfers are finally able to practice outside. 2020 is thankfully behind as we look forward to this year's Canterbury Kiely Cup .
Those of you who are interested in watching elite boys golf are in for a treat this coming September 19 & 20th. The date marks the 16th playing of the Canterbury Kiely Cup, established in 2005 in honor of our long-time caddy master, mentor, priest, and assistant golf professional, Mike Kiely. According to the Ohio coaches who have written and spoken to me, the Kiely Cup is the tournament their players look forward to most—right behind the OHSAA State tournament.
The level of competition is off the charts, also. Each year we invite the fifteen strongest Ohio high school boys’ golf teams from all three divisions to compete over 36 holes on Sunday and Monday. To give you an idea of how accomplished many of these high school golfers have become, four former Kiely Cup alumni dominated the 2021 U. S. Open Local Qualifier for Greater Cleveland recently, at Beechmont Country Club. Kent State junior Jared Wilson (Columbiana HS), a 2015 Kiely Cup alumnus earned medalist honors by posting seven birdies for an outstanding 65! KSU sophomore Cade Breitenstine (Green HS), another 2015 Kiely Cup alumnus, tied for second along with 2013 Kiely Cup medalist Ian Holt (Stow Monroe HS)—who still rates Canterbury his favorite golf course—with a pair of 3-under 68’s. Tyler McHugh (Walsh Jesuit HS), our 2011 Kiely Cup medalist finished a shot back with a 2-under 69 to secure the fourth and final qualifying spot.
This past year the Northeast Ohio Golf Coaches Association also named the following players to their 2020 First Team … all of whom will be competing this September: Topher Reed – St. Ignatius (All-Ohio); Nick Piesen – St. Ignatius (All-Ohio); Jack Vojtko – Hoban (All-Ohio); Solomon Petrie – Hoban (All-Ohio); Ben Cors – Walsh Jesuit (All-Ohio); Connor Malicki – St. Ignatius; Bradley Chill – St. Ignatius; Josh Wright – Hoban; Nolan Haynes – Hoban, and Coop Palmer – Hudson.
If you can find the time, do yourself a favor and stop by to watch some of the best Ohio prep golfers make an appearance. Who knows, one or more of them could qualify for the U. S. Open before we know it.
-Craig Fraser
15th Annual Canterbury Kiely Cup a Photo Finish !
Defending champion Dublin Jerome, newcomer Columbus Academy and Lakota East ended the 36-hole Kiely Cup boys’ golf tournament a mere one stroke apart. With fifteen schools competing and 75 players playing in threesomes, Division II powerhouse Columbus Academy prevailed with a score of 618 (307-311).
Five of the last six Kiely Cup champions hail from southern Ohio.
Columbus Academy Vikings coach Craig Yakscoe said his team was not intimidated by the strong field at the start under Sunday’s cloudy and cool conditions. Despite da Browns troubles that day, Monday’s weather was perfect—bright sun and 75 degrees.
The venerable Shaker Heights course played fast and hard. Balls ran out and Canterbury’s fast, undulating greens took their toll.
St. Ignatius
Led by sophomore sensation Topher Reed (79-73), seniors Andrew Kaye (77-77) and Ross Williamson (84-77), and standout freshman Nick Piesen (80-77), two-time Kiely Cup champ St. Ignatius produced the low score on Monday (304), fourteen strokes better than their opening round. Iggy’s new head coach, P.J. Meyers, and legendary assistant Bob Cook had to be asking themselves where those scores were on Sunday.
Lakota East
Jeff Combs’ Lakota East team could have easily taken home the hardware. Joe Wilson IV, the Thunderhawks’ sophomore phenom, captured medalist honors with a pair of back-to-back par 72’s, despite leaving three additional strokes on the edge of the cup on Canterbury’s final holes on Monday—the 590-yard, par 5 16th; the 230-yard, par 3 17th; and the 400-yard, par 4, uphill 18th.
Keynote
During the annual banquet on Sunday evening, the players and their parents and friends were treated to a Northeast Ohio legend. Herb Page, the 41-year veteran men’s and women’s golf coach at Kent State University, regaled the audience as keynote speaker. The dean of the Mid American Conference, Herb coached the Golden Flashes to 22 MAC men's titles, four top-10 NCAA finishes, and three NCAA regional titles while coaching 28 All-Americans. Seven of his former players are currently competing on professional tours. Following remarks by Canterbury’s caddy master, the inimitable Mike Kiely, Herb explained what it takes to elevate your game to the next level, proudly mentioned four former Golden Flashes—Hudson’s John Hahn and Will Kurtz, Walsh Jesuit’s Chase Johnson, and Stow-Munroe’s Ian Holt were all former Kiely Cup medalist.
This year marked the 15th annual Kiely Cup. From 2005-2013, the invitational event was an 18-hole tournament. It switched to 36-holes when it was decided that elite high school players needed the opportunity to play a collegiate run tournament.