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Kudos to Hollidaysburg's Scotch Valley Country Club, which was selected to host the 2026 Art Wall Jr. Memorial Championship, Sept. 14-15.
The tourney is an event conducted by the Pennsylvania Golf Association for golfers at member clubs who are at least 40 years of age. Tournament competition at the event is divided into three divisions: super-senior (65 years or older), senior (55-64 years of age) and pre-senior (at least 40 years old.)
The field, which is now set, features some of the best amateur golfers in the state, including Rick Stimmel, William Smith and Brian Crnjarich. Local golfers competing in the field will include Bill Allen, David DeGol Sr., David DeGol Jr., Artie Fink Jr., Ron Hinish, Mitch Johns and Joe Petta.
Golf fans interested in seeing some high-level competition should check out the action at this mid-September event.
Senior Four-Ball
There were a couple of fine showings for local golfers at the recent Pennsylvania Golf Association Senior Four-Ball championship.
This particular event was held at Toftrees Country Club in State College and included two days of stroke play competition.
When the tournament concluded on Tuesday, Sinking Valley's Greg Ferguson Sr. and Artie Fink Jr. had posted scores of 70 and 67, good enough to finish in a tie for fourth-place.
In the super-senior division, Iron Masters' Ron Hinish teamed with Hannastown's Jeff Hovenac to finish regulation play in a tie for first-place after scores of 70 and 66. In the playoff that ensued, Hinish and Hovenac were eventually defeated on the sixth hole of sudden-death by Michael Vassil and Byron Whitman of Berkshire County Club.
Name change
On a strange-but-true note: Tron Carter of the 'No Laying Up' podcast reported earlier this week that the PGA Tour is officially re-branding from "PGA TOUR" (all caps) to "PGA Tour."
The change will take place on all official PGA Tour media correspondence and public communications. I'm sure it will benefit the PGA Tour's image immensely. Ugh.
It's funny to see what some people focus on.
2026 Greater Altoona
This year's Greater Altoona Tournament is set for Sept. 12-13 at Sinking Valley and Iron Masters.
I couldn't be more excited for this year's competition. The men's side of the competition looks super-competitive with the likes of Sean Brannan, Anthony DeGol, David DeGol Jr., Artie Fink Jr., Todd Homan, Quintin Dziabo, Spencer Hinish and Wes Elder among a field of 20 golfers battling it out for the individual title.
The women's competition will feature a new twist this year as the plan is to compete in a team scramble format.
30 years ago
During the first week of September in 1996, Ed Strickler captured the club championship title at Huntingdon Country Club after defeating Dave Kyper in the tournament finals.
It was the fifth straight win for Strickler and his 20th title over a 30-year span. On his way to winning the 1996 trophy, Strickler also defeated Doug Garner, Bill Huston and John Shuck.
Ken Love covers local golf for the Mirror. He can be reached at GLTR777@atlanticbb.net.