Former Star Beacon sports writer Karl Pearson, who passed away on Aug. 21 of last year, didn’t exactly have a talent for the game of golf, much to his own admission or anyone who had ever seen him swing a club.
But Pearson did have a love and passion for the sport — just as a spectator.
So it is appropriate that this year all boys and girls golf teams in the Star Beacon’s coverage area will gather at Maple Ridge Golf Course to play in the Karl Pearson Invitational.
“I think Karl, the first thing he’d tell you is that he doesn’t know a ton about golf,” Geneva girls golf coach Rob DiPofi said. “But he invested so much time into constructing the tournament for the area kids. Years ago, it used to be a boys only event but he had a pulse on it and got the girls going.
“So it’s only right now that he’s passed that it bears his name.”
Geneva boys coach Brad Ellis said he always looks forward to the tournament and part of that was because of the way Pearson ran it.
“Karl, ever since I’ve been coaching, he was the one that was in charge of it and did all the coaches meetings and those things,” Ellis said. “It was a good tournament. Anything Karl did, it was well done. He’s definitely going to be missed and it’s very appropriate that the tournament will be named after him.”
The new name isn’t the only change for this year’s tournament.
For the first time in its history, both the boys and girls will play 18 holes (previously the boys played 18 while the girls played just nine holes).
The addition of nine extra holes was something Pearson discussed with coaches last year at the 2011 Star Beacon Invitational, which was one of the final live events he covered before his sudden passing at the age of 58.
“He had broached that topic with us and the coaches were pretty receptive to it,” DiPofi said. “It was just about managing the course. The Jyurovat family (who owns Maple Ridge) is super kind to the kids and allows us to have the course for most of, if not the entire, day and that speaks volumes of their love for the kids and the community, as well.”
The boys will be shotgunned off the front nine at 8 a.m. while the girls will be shotgunned off the back nine at the same time. Once each side has cleared the teams will swap nines.
Also, for the first in the tournament’s history, there will be a closest to the pin challenge. For the boys this will be on the par 3 third hole while the girls hole will be on the par 3 12th hole.
Ellis said he likes the addition of the closest to the pin as it possibly allows for some different players to get recognition.
“I think it’s a good idea,” he said. “Any time you add something to a tournament it’s good. I think sometimes closest to the pin is won by guys who aren’t necessarily the low scorer so it gives an opportunities for some different players to get some exposure.”
DiPofi agreed, saying he likes the additions to the 2012 Karl Pearson Invitational.
“I think it’s good,” he said. “You have to be willing to adapt and willing to change and I think this is something that’s fun at the beginning of the year. We all (in the county) kind of go our separate ways so it’s a nice chance for our area teams to get together and play.”
One thing that Pearson always talked about was his combination of excitement and curiosity of seeing this year’s area golfers.
DiPofi, in particular, remembered Pearson talking about wanting to see Geneva’s Danielle Nicholson, who went on to win the Division I state championship as a freshman, play in her first high school tournament.
“Last year, I can remember him saying to Danielle how he was looking forward to seeing her and covering her matches,” he said. “But, Karl’s with the Lord now and he’s in a better place than we are. He’s on my mind on and off during anything I’m involved with in sports. Once sports roll around, it’s strange not seeing him around.”
Much like DiPofi, Ellis said that although Pearson wasn’t much of a golfer it was his love of the sport, as well as his love of the athletes, that made him an important part of the tournament.
“That’s the thing, I think he had a love for not only golf, but for the kids and sports in general,” he said. “Anything he could do to promote the kids in our area it made him extremely happy to do it. Working with him in both golf and basketball, he was just as proud as the kids when they did well.”
While the event will give everyone a chance to remember Pearson, it will also be the first opportunity for county teams to see each other.
Ellis said he’s excited to compete with other teams in the area for the first time this season.
“The one thing is that area coaches, they’re not only good coaches but great people and that’s a nice way to start of the season with them,” Ellis said. “The kids like competing with each other, too. Even though us, Lakeside, Madison and Riverside are in the PAC, it’s nice to kind of get a look at what you’re going to be seeing.
“Then we have the backyard rivalry with Jefferson, Edgewood ad Conneaut. I know I enjoy it and I think the kids look forward to it.”
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