Chairman's Message
August 24, 2022
RECORDS ARE MADE TO BE BROKEN
Following the conclusion of last year’s Kiely Cup, Canterbury’s golf chairman informed me that due to a major tee and hole renovation project scheduled to begin after Labor Day, this year’s tournament would have to be moved up in the calendar from its traditional date in mid-September to August 20 & 21. Per OHSAA guidelines, this gave high school golf coaches no more than two weeks to assemble their teams and send me their rosters. In the past, our mid-September tournament functioned as a harbinger for the state tournament held in mid-October. Not this year.
Spectators and those of us who live in the Northeast Ohio remember the weather this past weekend was increment at best. An hour before the teams were set to tee off on Sunday afternoon, the course received an inch of heavy rain. Then we saw the sun and a few quick cloudbursts followed by rain overnight. Fortunately, Canterbury drains well. We are privileged that Mike LoPresti, the finest course superintendent in these parts is all about drainage. He made sure playing conditions were ready bright and early Monday morning.
Bottom line: the new August date and wet course conditions did not affect this year’s Kiely Cup champions—the Mason Comets! They took full advantage of benign course conditions under Rule 14, which is: lift-clean and place. Eleven strokes behind last year’s Kiely Cup champs, (Archbishop Hoban) after Sunday’s first round, the Comets set a blistering pace on Monday, surpassing Hoban’s 2021 36-hole total of 596 and establishing a new Kiely Cup record, 589! Coach Tim Lambert’s senior crew of Daniel Heister, Nate Vonderhaar, AJ Wilhelm, Timmy Hollenbeck, Luke Attal made up 18 strokes, ultimately winning by seven over last year Ohio Division I state champions, P. J. Meyers’ St. Ignatius Wildcats.
“Iggy” as they’re known in youth golf parlance are two-time Kiely Cup champs, (2006 and 2011)—and they are never out of the hunt. This year, they finished second for the seventh time—having previously been being runner-up in 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2021. Dominance speaks for itself. Over the years their individual (per player) scores are a mere 2.4 strokes greater than the winners. St. Ignatius is clearly the most significant team in the history of the Kiely Cup tournament.
Congratulations to this year’s medalist, Nate Vonderhaar whose two-day total (74-68 142) was two strokes greater than the record low established last year by Hoban’s Nolan Haynes. Nate’s closing round 4 under par 68, tied Ignatius’s Beau Titsworth’s score in 2011.
Ohio prep golfers are among the best in the country. Case in point: St. Charles Prep’s Leo Walling qualified for this year’s USGA, Jr. Amateur held in Bandon Dunes (Oregon), and our 2018 medalist OSU’s own Maxwell Moldovan, played in the 2022 U.S. Open at The County Club, in Brookline, Massachusetts.
Finally, kudos to this year’s talented field and best to luck to all the golfers as they move closer to achieving their sectional, district and state aspirations.
Craig Fraser, Chairman
RECORDS ARE MADE TO BE BROKEN
Following the conclusion of last year’s Kiely Cup, Canterbury’s golf chairman informed me that due to a major tee and hole renovation project scheduled to begin after Labor Day, this year’s tournament would have to be moved up in the calendar from its traditional date in mid-September to August 20 & 21. Per OHSAA guidelines, this gave high school golf coaches no more than two weeks to assemble their teams and send me their rosters. In the past, our mid-September tournament functioned as a harbinger for the state tournament held in mid-October. Not this year.
Spectators and those of us who live in the Northeast Ohio remember the weather this past weekend was increment at best. An hour before the teams were set to tee off on Sunday afternoon, the course received an inch of heavy rain. Then we saw the sun and a few quick cloudbursts followed by rain overnight. Fortunately, Canterbury drains well. We are privileged that Mike LoPresti, the finest course superintendent in these parts is all about drainage. He made sure playing conditions were ready bright and early Monday morning.
Bottom line: the new August date and wet course conditions did not affect this year’s Kiely Cup champions—the Mason Comets! They took full advantage of benign course conditions under Rule 14, which is: lift-clean and place. Eleven strokes behind last year’s Kiely Cup champs, (Archbishop Hoban) after Sunday’s first round, the Comets set a blistering pace on Monday, surpassing Hoban’s 2021 36-hole total of 596 and establishing a new Kiely Cup record, 589! Coach Tim Lambert’s senior crew of Daniel Heister, Nate Vonderhaar, AJ Wilhelm, Timmy Hollenbeck, Luke Attal made up 18 strokes, ultimately winning by seven over last year Ohio Division I state champions, P. J. Meyers’ St. Ignatius Wildcats.
“Iggy” as they’re known in youth golf parlance are two-time Kiely Cup champs, (2006 and 2011)—and they are never out of the hunt. This year, they finished second for the seventh time—having previously been being runner-up in 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2021. Dominance speaks for itself. Over the years their individual (per player) scores are a mere 2.4 strokes greater than the winners. St. Ignatius is clearly the most significant team in the history of the Kiely Cup tournament.
Congratulations to this year’s medalist, Nate Vonderhaar whose two-day total (74-68 142) was two strokes greater than the record low established last year by Hoban’s Nolan Haynes. Nate’s closing round 4 under par 68, tied Ignatius’s Beau Titsworth’s score in 2011.
Ohio prep golfers are among the best in the country. Case in point: St. Charles Prep’s Leo Walling qualified for this year’s USGA, Jr. Amateur held in Bandon Dunes (Oregon), and our 2018 medalist OSU’s own Maxwell Moldovan, played in the 2022 U.S. Open at The County Club, in Brookline, Massachusetts.
Finally, kudos to this year’s talented field and best to luck to all the golfers as they move closer to achieving their sectional, district and state aspirations.
Craig Fraser, Chairman