Chairman's Message
February, 2021
The year 2020 is thankfully behind us but as we all know we are not out of the woods yet. As more and more vaccines are administered I anticipate this year's Kiely Cup (our 16th) will be held! And, like so many other Kiely Cup tournaments in the past, I also expect this year will come down to the wire again.
Be sure to check out the 2021 invitees. We have an extremely strong array of teams from each division led by some of the best high school golf coaches in the country. I'll close by saying please continue to take every precaution ... stay safe, stay healthy.
-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 year 2020 is thankfully behind us but as we all know we are not out of the woods yet. As more and more vaccines are administered I anticipate this year's Kiely Cup (our 16th) will be held! And, like so many other Kiely Cup tournaments in the past, I also expect this year will come down to the wire again.
Be sure to check out the 2021 invitees. We have an extremely strong array of teams from each division led by some of the best high school golf coaches in the country. I'll close by saying please continue to take every precaution ... stay safe, stay healthy.
-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.