James Volpenhein is looking to win three state Senior Amateur titles in a row this week at Miami View Golf Club.
With a win, Volpenhein, a member at nearby Maketewah, would become the first player in history to win three consecutive Senior Amateur championships.
The championship features both a Senior (ages 55+) and Super Senior (65+) division. For the first time, the Senior Amateur Championship is a 54-hole event.
The Senior division champion will become exempt for the 2026, 2027, and 2028 Ohio Amateur Championship. The Senior division will also be ranked by WAGR.
ABOUT THE CLUB
Miami View Golf Club is unique among Greater Cincinnati private golf courses since it was constructed by its original members.
It all started in 1960 through the vision and foresight of four men who became disenchanted with playing golf at area public courses. The original four men were Ed McCarren, Jim Clark, John Frey, and Al Healy. They were later joined by Charlie Ratterman and Harry Hannum.
The first planning meeting was attended by just 25 golfing friends and family. A $10 donation was solicited from each attendee. This money financed a flier, fact sheet, etc. which was placed wherever golfers gathered. Through these and similar efforts interested members soon numbered 160 and the dream of that foursome was off and running.
Land was purchased, a retired golf course designer, William H. Diddel, was hired and work was started. Quickly it became apparent that there would not be sufficient funds. A call went out for volunteers from among the members. They arrived with rakes, shovels, etc. They built the greens, tees, and leveled fairways. They did anything that was necessary to turn the former farm into a golf course.
The first nine holes opened in 1961 and the back nine followed the next year.
Head Golf Professional: Brad Loomis
INSIDE THE FIELD
With a win, Cincinnati’s James Volpenhein would become the first player to win the Ohio Senior Amateur Championship three years in a row.
Two other players have won back-to-back Senior Amateur championships; Bill Dorece and Derek Gustafson, who is in the field this week at Miami View.
Inaugural Ohio Public/Municipal champion Peter Betzold is looking to add another Ohio Golf Association championship to his resume.
Former Ohio Amateur champions and Ohio Golf Hall of Fame members Alan Fadel and Robert F. Gerwin II are also teeing it up at Miami View.
Other past champions in the field include Tom Laubacher and Ken Kinkopf. Past winners Jim Durr and Gordon Willins compete in the Super Senior division
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