Curbstone Coaches enters 68th year

The Curbstone Coaches will start its 68th season of Monday luncheon speakers on Sept. 8 with a sports-related speaker at the Avion Banquet Center on East Western Reserve Road in Beaver Township.

It was formed in 1958 and has been meeting weekly September through May since then (off during the holidays). The first sports related-speaker this season will be Youngstown State University athletic director Ron Strollo.

There is usually an audience of 35-45 sports fans who get together. The Curbstone Coaches are not coaches, but serious sports enthusiasts who welcome all area sports fans, especially retirees and ladies as well.

The buffet luncheon begins at 11:45 a.m., and the meeting concludes at 1-1:15 p.m.

Plans are underway for their 57th annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, where 12 local sports figures who have excelled in various sports and contributions in the Mahoning Valley will be inducted.

That banquet will be May 3 at Mr. Anthony’s in Boardman and is sponsored by Briarfield Health Care Centers Ed and Diane Reese. The keynote speaker that day will be former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Louis Lipps.

The Curbstone Coaches Hall of Fame is regarded as one of the more popular community hall of fames in the country.

For more information about the luncheons, the hall of fame, application to nominate somebody or general questions about the Curbstone Coaches please call or text 3305066774.

Fleetwood, Henley share Tour lead

ATLANTA — Tommy Fleetwood is a familiar story hopeful of a different ending, posting eight birdies in his round of 7-under 63 to share the lead Friday at the Tour Championship with Russell Henley in what was shaping up as a tight race for the $10 million prize.

Fleetwood, increasingly popular for his grace in handling so many tough losses, is searching for his first PGA Tour win to go along with a collection of strong European tour titles. But he has been down this road before, quite often this year. The questions are getting old.

Maybe it ends with the Englishman winning two trophies for his first win — the FedEx Cup and the “Calamity Jane” replica putter that serves as the Tour Championship trophy.

The only buzz he got wrong was the setting on his clippers when he went to trim his beard, prompting questions about whether he shaved. It beats the alternative question of when he will win or whether this will be the week.

But it won’t be easy. Russell Henley had another birdie-birdie finish for a 66 to join him in a share of the lead at 13-under 127, extraordinarily low scoring except for spells of heavy rain the previous two days at East Lake and more expected Friday — they moved the tee times forward to avoid a stoppage in play. Greens are soft, they run true and preferred lies are in place.

Cameron Young bolstered his Ryder Cup hopes with a 62, which included a par save from the 17th fairway when he wisely pitched out from a most awkward lie. He was two shots behind.

Patrick Cantlay, the FedEx Cup champion from 2021, was on the verge of taking himself out of the tournament until he shot 30 on the back nine, capped off by a birdie-birdie-eagle finish, the last one a 7-wood from 249 yards to 6 feet. He shot 66 and was three behind, along with BMW Championship runner-up Robert MacIntyre.