The Ohio Valley Chapter (OVC) hosted its 21st annual golf outing on August 21, continuing the successful split-activity format introduced last year. Attendees chose between golfing at Kensington Golf Club in Canfield, Ohio, or target shooting at The Training Range in nearby Austintown. The event drew 54 participants—46 golfers and eight shooters.
Golfers teed off with an 8 a.m. shotgun start under misty skies, keeping spirits high despite the damp weather. The driving range, sponsored by Rainbow Rubber & Plastics, gave players a chance to warm up before the tournament.
The Premier Wire Die and Worldwide Superabrasives team—Denny Eisberg, Vincent Griffin, Kim Wynn, and David Simpson—claimed first place with a score of 60. Finishing close behind at 61 were Michael Krueger (Traxit North America), Jason Giebfried (Paramount Die Company), and Jonathan Gaser and Sam Diamond (Lincoln Electric). Third place went to Tim Gascoigne (G2 Materials), Mark MacKimm (Rainbow Rubber & Plastics), Mike Dies, and Alex Lippincott (Wire & Cable Technology), who posted a 64.
The golf outing was supported by hole sponsors including CONDAT Corp., Die Quip Corp., GEON Performance Solutions, OmniSource, Paramount Die Company, Premier Wire Die, Rainbow Rubber & Plastics, SIKORA, and WAFIOS. Skills contests were sponsored by Enkotec Company, Blachford Corp. (closest-to-the-pin), BECHEM Lubrication Technology, and SIKORA (longest drive). SDI La Farga COPPERWORKS sponsored the scoreboard.
Meanwhile, a group of eight participants opted for target shooting, returning to The Training Range for the second straight year. Chapter President Thomas Maxwell Jr. (Die Quip Corp.) won the five-shot marksmanship challenge and praised the alternative event as a fun and inclusive option for non-golfers.
Following the activities, all attendees gathered for a buffet lunch and limited bar sponsored by GEON Performance Solutions. Raffle prizes included golf clubs, wine, shooting targets, and more—generously donated by sponsors.
Adding an educational component to the day, attendees participated in three technical seminars. E.J. Neron (Witels Albert) discussed wire straightening advancements; Matthew Beyers and Hector Ferrer Ribas (Hyperion) presented on carbide grades and applications; and Mario Di Bello (Foerster Instruments, Inc.) covered common manufacturing defects in wire and cable production.
The success of the day was thanks to dedicated committee volunteers. A special acknowledgment was given to John Leffler, who announced his resignation from the board, in recognition of his years of service and valuable contributions to the chapter.
