×

Strong field lined up for Park Hills tourney

The area’s largest and most historic tournament begins play today in Altoona.

The 2018 Reliance Bank Classic at Park Hills will host 224 golfers competing in a match-format through the end of competition on Sunday afternoon.

The Park Hills Classic has a storied history, which dates back to 1968 when Bill Kelley and Wes Lingenfelter captured the inaugural title.

This year’s championship flight field features many of the best golfers in the state, including last year’s winners, Dan Brown and Patrick Rohrbaugh along with runners-up Artie Fink Jr. and Todd Homan.

Other past winners in this year’s field include the teams of Wes Turiano-Derek Hayes, Chris Perry-Mike Macionsky and Matt Fiscus-Rick Kinkela (who hold the qualifying record with an amazing score of 58 in 2013).

A team to watch this year will be Scotch Valley’s Anthony DeGol and Allegheny County’s Trent Karlik, winner of the 2014 West Penn Amateur.

Other teams to look out for include Joe DiMuccio-John DiMuccio, Wes Elder-Wally Clapper and Chuck Meyers-Doug Meyers.

Reliance Bank will once again be sponsoring the area’s most prestigious golf tournament. President and CEO Denny Doll acknowledged the effort that Park Hills commits to the event each year.

“It’s a pleasure to be part of this event and provide our assistance in so many ways,” Doll said. “It’s a great relationship.”

Park Hills head professional Tyler Vincent and the entire Park Hills staff will be working long hours to help make this year’s event the best ever.

Brittany Lincicome

It’s been several years since an LPGA Star has teed up her golf ball with male counterparts in an official PGA Tour event.

Long-hitting professional Brittany Lincicome is doing just that in this week’s Barbasol Championship at Keene Trace Golf Club in Nicholasville, KY.

“I can’t stop smiling,” Lincicome said after her Tuesday practice round. “Everyone has been coming up to me and wishing me good luck. That means a lot.”

Lincicome will join LPGA golfers Annika Sorenstam and Michelle Wie as female stars who have competed in PGA Tour events over the past two decades.

I’ll be rooting for Lincicome to put in a good showing and hoping she has a chance to make the cut after the end of today’s play.

Terry Burd

Congratulations to Park Hills’ Terry Burd, who recently captured the club’s match play championship.

Burd came to Park Hills several years ago from the Greensburg/Latrobe area and has been a tireless contributor at the club since his arrival.

In addition to his fine play over the years, Burd is once again serving as a tournament director for this week’s Reliance Bank Classic at Park Hills, he’s also in the field this weekend.

Ken Love covers local golf for the Mirror. He can be reached at gltr777@atlanticbb.net.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

COMMENTS

Starting at $4.39/week.

Subscribe Today