When Rocco Turner of Cardinal Mooney High School won the state boys championship last month, the feat opened up chatter:
“Who are the Valley’s past Ohio HS golf champions?”
No such question is beyond the reach of Valley sports icon Greg Gulas. He went to work on the all-time Valley Boys and Girls golf champs list.
State boys high school competition began in 1927.
Here are local champions of note:
1943 – Marvin Kurjan, Rayen (154)
1945 – Merle Moskowitz, Rayen (154)
1950 – Rick Jones, Rayen (148)
1951 – Rick Jones, Rayen (153)
1952 – Rick Jones, Rayen (155)
1962 – Alex Antonia, Hubbard (148)
1963 – Alex Antonia, Hubbard (142)
1974 – John Hamarik, Cardinal Mooney (154)
1977 – Julian Taylor, Ursuline (147)
1978 – Julian Taylor, Ursuline (151)
2001 – Jason Kokrak, Warren JFK (72-74, 146 – Scarlet Course)
2002 – Jason Kokrak, Warren JFK (67-67, 134 – Gray Course)
2014 – Ryan Fowler, Warren JFK (71-72, 143 – North Star Course)
2016 – Jared Wilson, Columbiana (71-71, 142 – North Star Course)
2017 – Jared Wilson , Columbiana (69-72, 141 – Scarlet Course)
NOTES:
- Julian Taylor, Jason Kokrak and Jared Wilson are 3 of just 19 two-time champions.
- Alex Antonio’s 142 on May 25, 1963 (Scarlet Course) puts him in a three-way tie for second-place all-time in Division I-Class AAA, one shot off the record.
- Jason Kokrak’s 134 in 2002 is tops all-time in Division III-Class AAA;
- Jared Wilson’s 141 in 2017 is tied for second-place, and his 142 in 2016 is fourth overall all-time in Class A-Division III.
INDIVIDUAL SINGLE ROUND SCORE:
OSU Gray – Gary Buttar (Austintown Fitch, 1985) is in a three-way tie in Class AAA with a 69.
OSU Scarlet – Jared Wilson (Columbiana, October 13, 2017) is tops in Division III-Class A.
INDIVIDUAL OVERALL SCORE:
OSU Scarlet – 142, Alex Antonio (Hubbard 1963) is in a three-way tie for tops in Division I-Class AAA
OSU Scarlet – 141, Jared Wilson (Columbiana, 2017) is tops in Division III-Class A.
North Star – 142, Jared Wilson (Columbiana, 2016) is tops in Division III-Class A.
OSU Gray – 134, Jason Kokrak (Warren JFK, 2002) is tops in Division III-Class A.
Boys Team Champions
3-Time Champion: Warren JFK (1974, Fall; 2000, 2001)
2-Time Champion: Cardinal Mooney (1988, 1989); Ursuline (1975, 1976)
1-Time Champion: Hubbard (1971), Ravenna (1966), Youngstown East (1952).
Girl’s golf started as a high school sport with the 1993 season.
Here are OHSAA GIRL’S INDIVIDUAL AND TEAM STATE RECORD HOLDERS AND STATE CHAMPIONS.
2008 – Ariel Witmer, South Range (70-69, 139)
2011 – Haylee Harford, Warren JFK (71-75, 146)
2014 – Haylee Harford, LaBrae (68-73, 148)
NOTE:
Haylee Harford is one of only 7 two-time individual champions.
INDIVIDUAL 18-HOLE SCORES (UNDER PAR):
Haylee Harford, LaBrae, 2014 is tied for second all-time at -2 — one of 10 individual golfers to do so.
INDIVIDUAL OVERALL 36-HOLES:
Ariel Witmer, South Range, 2008, at a -1, is fourth overall and one of two to do so.
TEAM CHAMPIONS:
Poland Seminary (2008).
Lakeview (2015)
