FAIRWAY SHOTS: Jack Kerins Scholarship founded; Tamie, Shamrock scrambles coming soon

May 19, 2008 01:13 pm

— By Lynn Saternow
Herald Sports Editor

IN THE HISTORY of golf in Mercer County, few have done as much for young people as Jack Kerins, patriarch of the family owners of Tam O’Shanter Golf Course.
In his honor, a Jack Kerins Scholarship Award has been started and will be awarded each year to a senior planning to attend college in the fall of their graduating year. A student must be a resident of Mercer County or the Shenango Valley.
The award is based on academic achievement, golfing accomplishments, and an essay by the applicant on what the student has learned from the game of golf and how it will help them in the future.
Applications are available at the Tam O’Shanter pro shop and must be returned by June 1.
Jack, 96 years young, founded The Herald-Tam O’Shanter Junior Tournament in 1949, allowing local youngsters to get a feel for the game. The family has continued to support junior golf and John Kerins, director of golf, still sponsors junior golf clinics for boys and girls as well as continuing The Herald-Tamie tourney each year.
A free clinic for junior golfers, who each received a free club, was held recently at Tamie driving range, sponsored by Tamie and the Tri-State PGA Section.
For boys and girls wishing to get special instruction, the Tamie junior golf program is set to begin June 13 and will be conducted each Friday for 7 weeks. There are three age groups: 5-8, 8-8:45 a.m.; 9-12, 8:45-9:30; and 13-18, 9:30-10:15.
Each class is limited to the first 40 students enrolled. A $25 fee includes instructions, range balls, T-shirt, and a field day on Aug. 8 which includes greens fees, lunch and prizes.
Players may sign up at the course.
ä While there’s a lot of concentration on youngsters, there are a couple of major tournaments coming up at Tamie as well for the older set.
The annual $15,000 Scramble will be held Saturday, with first prize of $2,000. The top 25 teams share in the prize list, if a full field registers. Shotgun starts are set for 7:45 a.m. and 1:45 p.m.
And a Senior Amateur Tournament is set for Wednesday, May 28, with a 9 a.m. shotgun. Age groups are 50-59, 60-69 and 70-over, with awards going to low gross and low Callaway handicap scores in each division.
It is a fun event as well with a $50 entry including golf, carts and chicken cookout as well as more than $1,200 in prizes.
ä Congratulations go out to veteran linkster Jim “Mooch” Parcetich of Farrell. While playing with “The Herd” — a group of 22 local golfers who usually frequent the Hickory VFW course — at Cedar Brook Golf Club near Pittsburgh, he scored a hole-in-one. He knocked in a 5-iron shot on the 175-yard No. 7 to pick up a nice skin for the day.
ä I was talking with Diane Daffin recently about the upcoming Shamrock Scramble, a major charity event that has raised more than $30,000 for worthy causes during the last four years.
Sponsored in memory of Michael W. Murphy, the event will be conducted June 28 at Tam O’Shanter. In past year it has been held at Hickory VFW, Sharon County Club and Oak Tree Country Club courses.
Among the recent recipients were children with autism and Type 2 diabeties, Shriners Hospital for children, St. Judes Hospital and the Make-a-Wish Foundation, as well as many others. Also the Michael Ward Murphy Memorial Scholarship Fund has supplied nearly $15,000 in Penn State scholarships.
Entry fee is $300 for the 4-person teams. For information, contact Diane Daffin, Jean Daffin or Connie Leon (724-342-2892).
ä Entries are being accepted for the Tri-State Section PGA Junior Championship to be held at Fox Run Golf Course, Beaver Falls, on July 2.
The winners of the boys’ and girls’ divisions qualify to join over 150 of the nation’s top junior golfers in The PGA of America’s flagship junior event, the Junior PGA Championship, Aug. 13-16, 2008, at TPC River’s Bend in Cincinnati, Ohio.
 The 33rd Junior PGA Championship is open to one boy and one girl champion from each of the 41 PGA Sections, winners of select national junior tournaments conducted throughout the year and special invitees who have not yet reached their 19th birthdays and who have not started college.
Junior golfers who wish to enter can obtain entry applications at local PGA golf facilities or contact the Tri-State Section at 724-774-2224 or visit the website at www.tristate.pga.com.
The Junior PGA Championship has traditionally been a stepping-stone for many of today’s PGA and LPGA Tour professionals as well as current collegiate stars. Past Junior PGA Championship competitors who have gone on to successful professional careers include: Billy Andrade, Brandie Burton, Stewart Cink, Jim Furyk, Cristie Kerr, Justin Leonard, Michelle McGann, Phil Mickelson, Grace Park, Dottie Pepper, Scott Verplank, David Toms and Tiger Woods.
ä Oak Tree Country Club will be the site of the YSU Penguin Club Bill Dailey Golf Outing June 4. It features morning and afternoon flights. The event is named in honor of the late YSU basketball coach.
Various packages are available to fund scholarships and other worthy causes. Individual golf packages include lunch, dinner, a fan pack and a door prize ticket for a price of $175.
Golfers will have a chance to interact with YSU student-athletes, meet coaches from all of YSU’s intercollegiate sports and win door prizes courtesy of great sponsors. For more information contact Tom Morella at (330) 941-2351.
ä A PGT North Tournament will be held May 31 at the Greens of Greenville. Any amateur golfer who would like to participate in the Pittsburgh Golfer Tour events should contact Eric Mount, 724-662-1807, or mount_eric@yahoo.com for information.
A complete PGT schedule is available at www.pgtgolf.com.

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