Fifty years ago, Park Hills Country Club hosted the area’s first best-ball invitational, starting a tradition of two-ball tournaments that continues in our region to this day.

During June, July and early August, most area clubs will host their own best-ball tourney, typically the biggest event of the year for each respective course. After 50 years, our area two-ball tournaments have accumulated a significant amount of history and plenty of memories for local golfers.

The following are just a few of the highlights our local best-ball events have witnessed over the past half-century:

Inaugural year, 1968

The first ever local two-ball tournament held in our area was the 1968 Park Hills Classic. Club president Maurice Lawruk and co-chairmen Tom Treese and Bill Burger were just a few of the men responsible for organizing this first event.

A total of 64 teams paid the $35 entry fee to compete in four rounds over two hot and humid days in mid-July.

Bill Kelley and Wes Lingenfelter would be crowned the eventual winners, and within a few years the tournament would become so popular that it was sold out months in advance with a waiting list of nearly 50 teams.

Iron Masters tradition

Iron Masters Country Club held its first invitational in 1977, and local fans were excited to see the home team of Kevin Feath and John Hummel take home the tournament trophy.

As the youngest team in the field, the recent graduates of Spring Cove High School outlasted some of the best golfers in the area to capture the inaugural Iron Masters tournament.

Amazingly, Feath, who now resides in Hollidaysburg, and Hummel (a Jacksonville, Florida resident) have returned as partners every year since. This summer’s Iron Masters Classic will mark the 42nd consecutive tournament for these long-time friends.

Mediate’s run

The 1984 Park Hills Classic witnessed the third consecutive win for the dominant team of Tommy Smith and Rocco Mediate from Greensburg.

Mediate, a college golfer at the time for Florida Southern University, would go on to a very successful career on the PGA Tour, but many local golf fans remember him as the skinny, long-hitting youngster with a great sense of humor — and plenty of golfing talent.

Mediate would return to Park Hills in 1991 to play in an exhibition match with David Love III. During the exhibition, Mediate set the course record of with a score of 63, a mark that stands to this day.

59 at Park Hills

During the qualifying round of the 2001 Park Hills Classic, the team of Sean McLanahan and Ty Grove played one of the finest best-ball rounds in local history.

McLanahan and Grove, both former standouts on the Hollidaysburg Area High School golf team, began their round with birdies on the first two holes. They would go on to birdie the fourth, fifth and seventh holes to close the front nine in 31.

The duo remained hot with birdies on holes 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17 and 18 for a back-nine score of 28 — and an amazing total of 59.

McLanahan and Grove were unable close out the tournament with a win that year, but would go on to capture the title in 2003.

Gillam’s mark

Tyrone native Jimmy Gillam has enjoyed some significant success during the past year while playing on various professional mini-tours across the country.

A decade ago, however, he was one of the most dominant amateur golfers our local area has ever seen.

The peak of this local dominance occurred in 2008, when Gillam partnered with both John Handrigan and Artie Fink Jr. to capture five consecutive best-ball tournaments.

Over a two-month span, Gillam teamed to win the championship flights at Scotch Valley, Sinking Valley, Park Hills, Iron Masters and Summit Country Clubs, a feat not accomplished before or since.

Class by himself

Among the many highlights over the past 50 years, the most significant is Fink’s career record.

The long-time Sinking Valley member captured his first best-ball event with partner Jim Roseberry at Down River Country Club in 1996. There would be many more titles to follow.

By 2009, Fink’s tournament total surpassed 20 and was still climbing. Just last week, Fink partnered with good friend Anthony DeGol to capture the Down River Invitational, bringing his amazing total to 42 local best-ball victories, more than double his closest rival.