The golfers who tee it up in the Miami Valley Metropolitan Championship this week will have to deal with an obstacle that might be as challenging as the hazards on the course at Country Club of the North.
Weather forecasters say the temperature will climb into the 90s during the 20th renewal of the 72-hole event that was first held in 1996. Play begins Thursday.
Six past champions, including 2015 winner Pete Betzold, are among 87 entrants as this competition sanctioned by the Miami Valley Golf Association visits CCN for the first time.
Pete Samborsky, who won three straight from 2006 to 2008 and another in 2011, has been the most successful player in the event. The only other entrant to win it more than once was Mike Suttman, who went back-to-back in 2000 and 2001.
Samborsky, the golf coach at Wright State University, is entered this time, but Suttman is not. Other champions in the field are: Bob Eardley (1999), Bob Jones (2005) Jeff Scohy (2010) and Ryan Reichley (2012).
Zach Yinger of Sidney, who won in 2014 at Piqua Country Club, did not defend his title last year and is not entered this time. Among other recent winners, Nick Scott (2013) is giving professional golf a whirl and Michael Bernard (2009) is out of town working.
Area golfers quiet: Golfers from the Miami Valley didn't have much success in the recent Ohio Open at Westfield Center.
John Jackson, a pro from Dayton, tied for 11th with scores of 70-68-67 for a 7-under-par 205. Another pro listing Dayton as his hometown, Dylan Jackson, tied for 37th at 212.
The only area amateur who made the cut was Austin Sipe, who recovered from a first-round 75 with 69 and 70 to finish with a 2-over-par 214 in the 54-hole tournament.
Alec Tahy, who tied for second a year ago with a 13-under-par score, shot 75-71 this time and missed the cut.
Chip shots
• The Dayton Senior Match Play Championship ends today with the final match at Madden Golf Course. Thirty-seven players participated and 14 made the championship flight. Gary Huls was medalist with a 73 in Thursday’s qualifying round. He and defending champion Steve Block (76) had first-round byes.
• Of the 18 players from the Miami Valley who teed it up in the Ohio Amateur at Findlay Country Club last week, only six made the 36-hole cut to the top 50 and ties.
They were: Sipe (143), Reichley (145), Scohy (145), Ryan Wenzler (145), Ryan Flick (146) and Christopher Sloan (148).
• Sectional qualifiers for the U.S. Amateur Championship will be held in Cincinnati at Coldstream Country Club on Monday and Camargo Country Club on Tuesday.
• Dayton Amateur Stroke Play Championships for men, senior men and women will be held Aug. 6-7 at Community Golf Club. The registration deadline for all three is July 31.