DON NIST
Only 3 Time Winner of Tigertown Open
(1957-1968-1973)
Only Stark County Golfer to win Ohio Public Links Championship more than once.
(1957-1965-1972)
6 Time Winner of Stark County Amateur
(1956-1962-1965-1967-1969-1971)
5 Time Winner of Stark County Open
(1956-1967-1969-1971-1982)
5 Time Winner of Stark County Tournament of Champions
(1973-1975-1979-1982-1984)
2 Time U.S. Amateur Qualifier
(1964-1969)
3 Time U.S. Senior Amateur Qualifier
(1993-1996-1998)
3 Years Varsity Golf at Ohio State University
Stark County Amateur Golf Association Board of Directors
1958 through 1982
Golf Course Evaluator for Golf Digest Magazine top 100 Golf Courses in U.S.
JOHN OFER
John lived all his life in Canton, Ohio. He served in Alaska and Europe during World War II. He returned to Canton in 1946 and married Evelyn Hautala. He worked as a carpenter with his brother-in-law building houses.
He started working on golf clubs in his basement attracting the attention of Charlie Wipperman, Frank Beley, Chuck Rotar and Buzz Miller. With their help, word of John’s expertise in working with golf clubs
spread out to the entire area. John soon realized that he needed more space, so he then decided to open up his well-known golf shop in the old Ink Apple House on Fulton Road.
Later, Bobby Nichols, the professional at Firestone Country Club brought club work down to the golf shop. Eventually other professional golfers who played at Firestone during the tournament time requested John’s assistance. John then needed more room so he took over all of the Apple house.
John was known as one of the best wood club refinishers in the world. He also designed the 3-in-1 driver which was ahead of its time.
John became so well-known throughout the United States that he did special clubs for his favorite Presidents – George Bush, Sr. and Bill Clinton.
Locally, John sponsored many amateur golf events. He had his own golf tournament “The John Ofer Tournament of Champions.” It was in this tournament that he awarded the winner with a green jacket.
BETTY PEPPARD
13 Time Winner of the Women’s Akron District Golf Association Championship
(First at age 17)
2 Time Winner of Ohio Women’s Amateur
Women’s NCAA Medalist at OSU Scarlet Course
St. Augustine Florida Amateur Champion
Palm Beach Florida Amateur Champion
Low Amateur at the following LPGA Tournaments:
- Tampa Open
- St. Petersburg Open
- Sanford Florida Open
- Alliance Open
BILL POWELL
After returning home from World War II, Bill established Clearview Golf Club in East Canton. 9 holes were opened in 1948. In 1978, he opened the second nine.
Clearview is the only course designed, built, owned and operated by an African American. Clearview was named a National Historic site by the U.S. Department of the Interior in 2001.
Bill Powell has received the following honors:
- 2009 National PGA Distinguished Service Award
- Lifetime membership into the PGA of America
- Induction into the Ohio Veteran’s Hall of Fame
- Honorary doctorates from Baldwin Wallace College and Wilberforce University
- Unsung Hero Award from Congressional Black Caucus spouses
ALEX ROTAR, JR
3 Time Winner of Stark County Amateur
(1974-1975-1981)
2 Time Winner of Stark County Open
(1972-1985)
Winner of Stark County Tournament of Champions
(1973)
4 Time Winner of Stark County Junior Championship
(1957-1958-1959-1960)
Winner of Ohio Public Links Championships
(1980)
5 Time Winner of Akron District Match Play Championship
(1975-1976-1981-1983-1987)
3 Time Winner of Northern Ohio Golf Association Match Play Championship
(1985-1986-1987)
Winner of Northern Ohio Golf Association Medal Play Championship
(1986)
3 Years Varsity Golf at Ohio University
(1961-1962-1963)
RALPH SANTANGELO
Learned to play golf as a caddy at the former Westmoor Country Club in 1932
Registered the first hole-in-one by any golfer at the Westmoor Country Club in 1933
Stark County Junior Champion in 1933
Worked for Pro Cliff Thompson at Shady Hollow Country Club in 1934
Stark County Junior Runner-up in 1934
McKinley High School Golf Team State Runner-up in 1934
Canton District Public Links Runner-up in 1939 and 1940
Canton District Public Links Champion in 1941
Served in Europe during World War II
Canton District Public Links Runner-up in 1946
Stark County Amateur Champion in 1954
Stark County Open Champion in 1954
First Amateur to win both the Amateur and Open titles in the same year
Stark County Golfer of the Year in 1954
Stark County Amateur Runner-up in 1955
Stark County Open Runner-up in 1957
Affiliated with the Stark County Amateur Golf Association from 1946 to 1976. Served as President, Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer, Tournament Director and Board of Directors at various times
Passed away on July 11, 2003
SAM SPINO, JR.
5 Time Winner of Stark County Amateur
6 Time Winner of Stark County Open
7 Time Winner of Stark County Tournament of Champions
2 Time Winner of Akron District Medal Play Championship
Winner of Akron District Match Play Championship
Winner of Akron District Tournament of Champions
2 Time U.S. Amateur Qualifier
U.S. Mid Amateur Qualifier
Board Member of Stark County Amateur Golf Association for 15 years
President of American Italian Golf Association for 6 years
JAY SPITALE
2 Time Winner of Stark County Amateur
(1976-1977)
Winner of Stark County Open
(1989)
Winner of Ohio Junior Championship
(1973)
2 Time Winner of Pennsylvania State College Championship while attending Edinboro State University
(1976-1977)
Voted First Team All-American in 1977
Successful Professional Career starting in 1978 and won 4 Northern Ohio PGA Major Championships
Formed Spitale Junior Golf Tour in Memory of his father Angelo Spitale which has had 10,000 Junior participants over the years.
OLIVER TRANSUE
5 Time Winner of Stark County Amateur
(1927-1928-1930-1931-1933)
2 Time Winner of Stark County Open
(1932-1933)
Captain of 1934 Yale Golf Team
Played in 1935 U.S. Open at Oakmont CC
Played in 1935 U.S. Amateur at the Country Club in Cleveland. Lost to Lawson Little in Quarter Finals.
PAULINE WHITACRE
3 Time Winner of Ohio Women’s Amateur Championship
5 Time Winner of Ohio Women’s Senior Amateur Championship
6 Time Winner of Akron District Women’s Amateur Championship
Pauline Shot her age at 70 and has done so every year
A member of the Golfing Frey Family. Her father Vic Frey played good golf at 90 years of age.