Jay Spitale, Congress Lake Club and Joe Kristosik, PGA Life Member andwere inducted in to the Northern Ohio PGA Hall of Fame during the Fall Awards Ceremony on Monday, October 29th at Westfield Group Country Club/Cary Blair Center.
Jay was born in Canton, Ohio. He attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School. He then attended Edinboro University. He was inducted in to the Edinboro University Sports Hall of Fame in 1987. He was inducted in to the St. Thomas Aquinas Sports Hall of Fame in 2007. He was also an inductee of the inaugural class of the Stark County Golf Hall of Fame in 2010.
In 1979 he became the Head Golf Professional at Edgewood Golf Club. In 1985 he became the Head Golf Professional at Skyland Pines Golf Course. In 1994 he became the owner/operator of Jay Spitale Golf Center until 1999. In 1999 he returned to Skyland Pines Golf Course as the Head Golf Professional until 2004 when he became the owner of Spitale Driving Range and Teaching Center. He is presently a PGA Teaching Professional at Congress Lake Club.
In 1995 Jay developed the Spitale Junior Golf Tour in memory of his father, Angelo. The tour offers five tournaments a year in the Stark county area, averaging 100 players per tournament.
While a member of the Northern Ohio PGA he served on the Board of Directors from 1991-1998; Tournament Committee Chairman from 1993-1995; Assistant Committee Chairman 1997-1998. He was honored as the Northern Ohio PGA Junior Golf Leader of the Year in 2003.
His playing accomplishments include Northern Ohio PGA Assistants Championship winner in 1980; Denny Shute Match Play Champion in 1990; and Senior Denny Shute Match Play Champion in 2006 and 2007.
Jay and his wife Christy currently reside in North Canton. They have three children, Christy, Julie, and Jay; and four grandchildren.