Courtesy photo This is a scenic shot of the Sciotto Country Club near Columbus, Ohio.

Artie Fink Jr.’s remarkable golfing career notched yet another amazing milestone by qualifying to play in this week’s U.S. Senior Open at Scioto Country Club near Columbus, OH.

Qualifying, and playing, in any USGA national championship is an extraordinary accomplishment for any golfer, but the U.S. Senior Open will be Fink’s fourth different USGA championship.

He previously competed in the U.S. Public Links championship, U.S. State Team competition and the U.S. Amateur championship.

Being a little older than Fink, I’ve been fortunate to witness his progression over the years from good local golfer to the best our area has ever seen.

I have a favorite Artie story from the late 1990s that I’ve shared hundreds of times. It concerns a round we played together, as opponents, during the Iron Masters Classic.

Still a long hitter, back then he was crazy long. During our round, I was amazed at far he was hitting the ball and by how he played the par-5s in particular — driver and pitching wedge for birdie on the fourth hole, driver and nine-iron on the sixth hole for eagle and another driver and wedge on the 14th for birdie.

With all that said, the most amazing hole was the 12th. From the back tees on this uphill 543-yard, par-5, Fink boomed a drive 30 yards past the fairway bunkers and proceeded to hit an eight-iron onto the green — 10 feet from the hole.

An eight iron! I can still hardly believe it.

Despite his prodigious length, Fink went on to become the most accurate ball striker I’ve ever played with. He has earned a tremendous amount of respect among all golfers in our area.

We’re all wishing him well this week.

MU Invitational

Mount Union ALCC held its 52nd annual best-ball invitational last weekend and a couple of familiar faces wound up in the winner’s circle.

Hollidaysburg’s Anthony DeGol and Sean Brannan scored an impressive 14-under par for 18 holes on the par-74 course. It was the duo’s second two-ball win of the season, having also captured Down River title a couple of weeks ago.

Unfortunately, tournament officials felt the need to cancel Saturday’s round due to a rain-filled weather forecast and tough course conditions.

DeGol and Brannan were undeterred, however, posting an amazing score of 60 on Sunday to take home the trophy.

SV Invitational

The next area two-ball event will be at Sinking Valley, July 10-12.

The team of Josh Leibfried and Adam Ritchey will be back to defend their title from last year in this 54-hole, stroke-play event.

65 years ago

During the first week of July in 1961, Dr. Skip Hughes captured the Blairmont Club championship.

Hughes needed extra holes to defeat 16-year-old Ken Moran to take home the trophy (Hughes went on on to win a total of 13 club championships at Blairmont).

Ken Love covers local golf for the Mirror. He can be reached at GLTR777@atlanticbb.net.