Mike Stone Wins Habitec Toledo Open
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Posted August 16, 2012
Published: August 15, 2012
Tim Rogers, The Plain Dealer
“Off The Green”
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Posted August 6, 2012
The Habitec Toledo Open will celebrate its 86th year as one of Ohio’s signature open events. The tournament hosts the top professional and amateur golfers from across the country. In fact, many use it as an opportunity to test and refine their skills against some of the game’s best.
Past winners include: Byron Nelson (World Golf Hall of Famer), Lee Williamson (PGA Tour), John Mills (Nationwide Tour), Ryan Armour (Nationwide Tour) and Frank Stranahan (renowned amateur), to name a few.
Eighty-six years is quite a milestone, especially when you consider that just 13 years ago, the tournament’s future was in question.
In 1999, the Toledo Chapter of the Northern Ohio PGA received a limited number of registrations for the event, forcing officials to cancel it and re-evaluate future plans.
As luck would have it, around the same time, Jim Smythe—late Toledo resident, former president of Habitec Security and avid golfer—was looking for an opportunity to give back to the Toledo community. He saw the Toledo Open as a way to do just that.
Smythe reached out to the NOPGA Section to find out what it would take to get the tournament running again. After a short discussion, Habitec Security signed on as the tournament’s title sponsor and provided the resources necessary to restore it to its former prominence.
The turnaround was immediate. Not only was the 2000 Habitec Toledo Open played, but it was capped at 130 players. The field was made up of PGA professionals from multiple states, Canadian Tour players, top amateurs and recent college graduates.
“My father was passionate about golf and Toledo, and to have the opportunity to give back to the city through the game he loved made him truly happy,” said John Smythe, Jim’s son and president of Habitec Security. “We are honored to be a continued part of the Habitec Toledo Open’s rich history and continued story.”