Austin Schoonmaker of Maineville, a member of the Wright State University golf team, is back to defend the men’s title he won last year at Dayton Country Club.
Several players capable of winning the event are in the field, and one of them is Schoonmaker’s Wright State teammate, Bryce Haney of Huber Heights, who finished second last year and was runner-up to Vandalia’s Austin Greaser in last week’s Ohio Amateur Championship in Columbus.
Greaser is playing elsewhere this week as is Josh Gilkison of Springboro, who won the Metro in 2016 and 2017.
Former Metro champions in the field include: five-time winner Pete Samborsky of Centerville, Pete Betzold of West Chester, Jeff Scohy of Bellbrook and Bob Jones of Dayton. The winners of the two previous Metros held at Piqua CC were Samborsky in 2008 and Zach Yinger of Sidney in 2014. Scohy was runner-up in both tournaments.
Other notable entrants include: Cameron Willis of Eaton, who recently set a new course record at Moraine Country Club; Tyler Goecke of Xenia, Cole Corder of Beavercreek, Jon Cloyd of Springboro, Zach Crawford of Vandalia, Paul Day of Centerville, Kevin Flynn of Springboro, John Sherman of Dayton, Andy Mayhew of Dayton.
The Metro uses stroke play, with only the low 32 scores and ties after 36 holes qualifying for the last two rounds. The starting times begin at 7:30 a.m. Thursday and Friday. Weekend starting times begin at 11:30 a.m. Groupings will be redone after each round based on scores, with highest scorers going out first.
‘The Marty’ set for Moraine Country Club
Moraine Country Club is hosting an interesting women’s team event today and tomorrow. Members call it “The Marty.” It has been played for many years to honor member Marty Bush, who will be 100 years old next month.
“Marty has been a real pillar in our club,” Moraine golf professional Brent Sipe said Wednesday. “I used to caddie for her. That’s how long she’s been here.”
The Marty was first played at the suggestion of Patti Giering, a member of the Moraine women’s group, who thought Marty Bush should be saluted for her long dedication to women’s golf at the club.
Each year they now have this two-day, team event to celebrate Marty’s long association with golf at Moraine. There are 32 participants - 16 on each team.
Marty brought some attention to the club in 1961 when she defeated Ruth Pickrel to win the City Women’s Amateur Championship. Mrs. Pickrel was no pushover. After her loss to Marty, then the wife of Dr. A.J. Bush, Mrs. Pickrel won six straight City Women’s titles.
Marty won the Moraine women’s championship seven times.
Born in Lebanon, Ohio, Marty graduated from Miami University. While living in Lebanon, she took golf lessons from various Cincinnati professionals who were hired to teach at the nine-hole Harmon Golf Club.
“My father was a golfer,” Marty said on Tuesday. “He played at Harmon. He started me playing golf when I was 13 years old.”
Marty was married to Dr. A.J. Bush for 76 years. He died on February 19, 2019, at the age of 103. They had been members at Moraine for more than 60 years.
Marty played golf until three years ago when she “played nine holes a couple of times” before putting her clubs away.
Marty says she has “only been out of the house once in the last four months,” but she plans to attend the opening ceremonies today and then return for the post-tournament luncheon on Friday.
Asked if the winners of the event get a team trophy, she said, “We’re not that formal. We just say, “Winning team, stand up!”
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