Northeast Ohio golfers win the "other" Rider Cup
No, that’s not a misspelling in the headline. We’re not talking about the internationally acclaimed Ryder Cup matches here, but rather the Rider Cup challenge, which has become an annual three-day golf showdown between teams from Northeast Ohio and Pennsylvania. A number of the Ohio linksmen are low-handicap players with ties to the Euclid area—including Steve Blackburn Sr., a former grounds superintendent at Briardale Greens Golf Course, and his son, Steve.
The Rider Cup employs a format quite similar to that used in the bi-annual battle between the top USA professionals and the cream of the crop from Europe, but it is much more low key and is conducted without benefit of large galleries or an international TV audience.
In late September, the Ohio team, captained by the younger Steve Blackburn, posted a runaway 55.5 to 34.5 victory with a strong showing on the two tournament venues used this summer—Manakiki Golf Course in Willoughby Hills and Little Mountain Country Club in Concord. The three-day event began with a Saturday practice round at Stonewater Golf Club. In between the Sunday and Monday rounds, the participants—20 players on each team—enjoyed a convivial dinner at Mulligan’s in Highland Heights.
The secret to the Ohio team’s strong performance? “We just wanted it more,” said Steve Blackburn Sr. “We were on our home turf and we were motivated to play well.”
The event, originally organized 15 years ago by Bobby Delcoco, is traditionally held on the third weekend in September. The location alternates between the two states and this was Ohio’s year to play host. “Regardless of who wins, it is great fun, great food, and great friends,” said Delcoco, a technical sales rep for Lincoln Electric Company, who served as captain of the Ohio team during the event’s first five years.
From the Saturday practice round through the Monday “match play” windup, the Rider Cup participants enjoyed ideal weather. “We seem to have beautiful weather for this event just about every year,” noted Euclid’s Paul Hribar Jr., a veteran participant in the interstate golf battle.
In addition to Hribar, Delcoco, and the Blackburns, the Ohio team included: Mike Yelenic, Chris Chambers, Carl Quercioli, Ken Bieniek, Ron Gordish, Tom Rittberger, John Sichko, Cliff Johnston, Dan Marinelli, Mike Angie, Mark Foss, Eddie Neer, Phil Bojc, Joe Zabukovec, Dave Sotka, and Joe Hurtuk.