Northern Ohio PGA Section Foundation Hosts 2nd PGA HOPE Cup at Glenmoor Country Club
Jackson Township: It was the kind of day and the type of golf that every person who ever wore a uniform should – and can — be able to experience.
Not any uniform, but a uniform of the United States Army. Or the United States Marines. Or the United States Navy or the United States Air Force. Or any of the six branches of the armed forces of the United States. The uniforms of the real heroes of our country, be they from Korea, Viet Nam or Desert Shield/Desert Storm.
That was the kind of day it was last Thursday when the Northern Ohio Section Foundation of the Professional Golfers Association and Glenmoor Country Club hosted 60 U.S. Veterans for the second PGA HOPE Cup.
PGA HOPE is an acronym for Helping Our Patriots Everywhere and the NOPGA Foundation conducted 17 PGA HOPE programs impacting about 350 veterans across Northern Ohio this year.
The Foundation concluded its season with the PGA HOPE Cup, a 9-hole scramble and celebration for the veterans who participated in the six-to-eight week program conducted by the NOPGA members, associates and LPGA members who have been trained in adaptive golf and military cultural competency.
NOPGA member and television personality Jimmy Hanlin was his usual entertaining and gracious emcee and Jim Tressel – does he need an introduction? — was simply masterful – and at times spellbinding — as the featured guest/speaker.
NOPGA Executive Director David Griffith delivered a valuable message when he encouraged the veterans to “spread the word” to their brethren about the PGA HOPE program and its benefits that include how their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being can be enhanced.
“Our goal is to continue serving more veterans through this great game of golf,” he said. “We encourage all veterans who have participated in PGA HOPE to invite others to join and experience everything our Foundation and PGA HOPE have to offer.”
Sitting at the back of the Glenmoor veranda and listening intently were Todd Ekstrand and his father, Tim.
Todd is in his third year as head professional at Barrington Golf Club and his father served our country for six years, which included nearly 11 months in Vietnam.
The two were part of Todd Ekstrand’s Team Aurora, along with veterans Daniel Gaudet, Tom Adams and Mark Pancake. While their team didn’t make the leaderboard as hoped, Tim Ekstrand did provide one of their two birdies when he converted his son’s approach shot on Glenmoor’s ninth hole by draining about a 10-foot putt.
“Great putt, dad,” Todd Ekstrand said as they returned to their cart to finish their 9-hole round.
Perhaps there is no better way to spend the day than playing a round of golf with your father.
“I count my blessings every day,” Todd Ekstrand said.
Tim Ekstrand, 74 this week, doesn’t get to play as much golf as he once did. Since 2017 he has endured the effects of being exposed to Agent Orange, the dioxin contaminant sprayed by the military to kill the tropical foliage and leaves on the trees that provided cover for the enemy in South Vietnam along the Cambodian and Laos borders.
Tim Ekstrand saw it all. During his active duty he was stationed in three of the four hostile fire zones and remembers the B52’s dropping bombs and feeling the reverberation under his feet during the U.S. assault on the strategic Black Virgin Mountain near the Mekong Delta and the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
“It was terrifying,” he said.
Quite the contrast as the PGA HOPE Cup and all that went with it.
“It was wonderful,” Tim Ekstrand said of playing alongside his son. “I enjoy it all the time and we poke fun at each other. He tells me what to do. I just can’t make my body do it.”
This marks the first year that Todd Ekstrand and Barrington has hosted one of the NOPGA Foundation’s six-week programs leading to the Hope Cup.
“This was the first year for us to host one of the six-week clinics at Barrington and I will do it every year, if they allow me,” he said.
Hanlin, a golf course owner as well as Section member, introduced Tressel after offering some think yous to the veterans.
“My father was a Vietnam veteran, and he is 82 and I don’t thank him often enough,” he said. “I’d like to thank all of you for what you did. I am super-excited to be here and be a part of this.”
Hanlin also offered a shout-out to NOPGA Hall-of-Famer Renee Powell, who has been instrumental in the founding and growth of the PGA HOPE program.
Tressel delivered a heartfelt and enlightening talk to the crowd during a question-and-answer session with Hanlin about football, golf, heart, leadership, discipline, determination and dedication. He said it didn’t take long to accept the invitation from Foundation Director Danielle Monas.
“All I had to do was look at my calendar and see that the date was open, and the answer was yes,” said Tressel, whose father, Lee, served in World War II. “An attitude of gratitude for the people that have served so we can be free and play golf and live the way we want to live. It’s always been encouraging to see what the PGA has done. They have made such a difference for veterans, for youths and for everyone. So, to have a chance to come and take part, no doubt. I was going to be here.”
The five-player PGA HOPE Mentor team headed by Quail Hollow Director of Player Development, Kevin Sullivan won the event, eventually prevailing in a 57-yard shootout.
Only the veterans participated in the shootout after the 15 teams were split into two groups and played a scramble on Glenmoor’s two nines. The top teams from both nines advanced to the shootout, a 57-yard shot to Glenmoor’s 18th green.
The team from PGA HOPE: Elyria, captained by Valley of the Eagles Director of Golf Barry Friedman, PGA, posted a 6-under 30 on the front nine and PGA HOPE: Mentor and PGA HOPE: Chagrin Falls-Men, captained by Matthew Creech, PGA, won the back nine at 5-under 31.
PGA HOPE: Mentor won when Mentor resident and Army veteran Tom Brown knocked his shot to three feet. Navy veteran and Novelty resident Jim Morrison made a 30-foot birdie putt on the final hole to get his team into the shootout and Chardon resident Jason Wallingford and Painesville Township’s Rob Sutton also made key contributions.
The results from the scramble are below with the captains listed first:
FRONT 9:
1. PGA HOPE Elyria (Barry Friedman, Vincent Mancuso, Robert Dickson, Matt Ulcar, Collin Leahy) 30;
2. PGA HOPE Macedonia (Dan Dauk, Therester Cox, William Casper, Raji Welch-Bey, Konrad Kaniowski) 31;
3. PGA HOPE Washington (Mark Sierak, Herman Friedman, Bryan Chaye, Jennifer Baun, Mike Novotny) 32;
4. PGA HOPE Shawnee Hills (Meggie Flanigan, Mark Luciano, Marvin Descott, Hank Milnark, Scott Jones) 33;
T5. PGA HOPE Aurora (Todd Ekstrand, Tim Ekstrand, Daniel Gaudet, Tom Adams, Mark Pancake) 34;
T5.PGA HOPE Medina (Trevor Hazen, Jacob Anders, Shawn Mousourakis, Steve Canfil, Marty Poshedly) 34;
T5: PGA HOPE Ravenna (Ann Ciavarella, Gary Boykin, Paul Heaverly, Trip Heaverly, Sean Redfern) 34;
8. PGA HOPE The Turn (Erin Craig, Matt Crump, Art Davis, Phil Franze, Josh Light) 35.
BACK 9:
T1. PGA HOPE Mentor (Kevin Sullivan, Tom Brown, Rob Sutton, Jason Wallingford, Jim Morrison) 31;
T1. PGA HOPE Chagrin Falls Men (Matthew Creech, Steve Bryant, Kevin Holbrook, Dan Kuenzig, Kevin Kuenzig) 31;
3. PGA HOPE Clearview Men (Meg Glass-Stem, Ted Thomas, Chad Ryan, Aaron Cunningham, Jesse Staaf) 32;
T4. PGA HOPE Chagrin Falls Women (Jenn Creech, Mary Lou Smullen, Lashunda Lee, Ayesha Vaughn) 33;
T4. PGA HOPE Clearview Men (Renee Powell, Hollis Burkes, April Buff, Mindy Cooper, Barb Hickman) 33;
T6. PGA HOPE Mill Creek (David Boos, Rob Rivello, Fred DiPasqua, Fred Larica, Tom Sariski) 35;
T6. PGA HOPE West Toledo (Brad Heilman, Rick Amos, Marty Coombs, Hope Russell, Kenneth Taylor) 35.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
TIM ROGERS
Tim is a Contributing Writer for the Northern Ohio PGA. Award-winning golf writer and sports reporter for the Plain Dealer, now retired. Contributor to the Akron Beacon Journal, Canton Repository, AP, other national publications.