TROY — It was an amazing week last week for Miami Shores Golf Professional Kyler Booher.

And it came on the heels of a big win by former Piqua standout Darrin Grove, an assistant professional at The Golf Club in New Albany.

Booher, who has been close on several occasions before, finished second at the 76th annual Southern Ohio PGA Professional Championship to advance to the PGA Club Professionals national tournament next spring in Austin, Tex. at Barton Creek.

“I have played in the sectional tournament five times (between Ohio and Colorado),” Booher said. “I have been an alternate three times. I think I was two spots away twice and one spot away once.”

At this year’s tournament at Maketewah Country Club in Cincinnati, Booher didn’t get off to the start he wanted to with a three-over par 74 in the opening round.

But, he rebounded with a two-under par 69 in the second round and finished with a scorching six-under par 65 to finish five-under par and take second place, earning a trip to the PGA Professional Championship.

“It was nice (to make it to nationals),” Booher said. “That (65) ties my low tournament round. I played really well.”

The PGA Professional Championship will be played in mid-April, with the top 20 finishers advancing on to the PGA Championship (on the PGA Tour).

“I will be playing against the best club professionals,” Booher said. “There will be something like 312 (golf professionals in the field). And some of those guys are there every year. Given that it is my first time playing there, I would be really thrilled if I could just make the cut (after two rounds).”

PGA Junior Program

When Booher came to Miami Shores, one of the things he did was institute a Junior Program that was part of the PGA Junior League.

It allows kids to compete against kids from other golf courses in a team format, as well as receiving instruction and learning the game.

“This was our third year,” Booher said about Miami Shores, who had 12 participants this summer. “I just think it is the best program (for juniors). Mainly because of the team aspect.”

Many times, junior golf can be an individual thing.

“Golf can really be a one on one thing,” Booher said. “And there our kids who really enjoy that individual aspect. But, I think for a lot of them, the team aspect is a really good thing for them. After three years, I see kids going on to high school programs and there is a North Dayton Middle School program. I think the game of golf is growing and this is a great way to do it”

Grove wins Legacy

Darrin Grove had a big day at the Legacy Championship at the Heritage Club in Mason recently.

The Legacy Championship is one of the Southern Ohio PGA Club Professional tournaments played annually.

Grove, playing in the second group off, opened with a one-under par 35 on the front nine and came in with a two-under par 34 on the back for a three-under par 69 on the par-72 layout.

That gave him the clubhouse lead as Grove returned to New Albany for a day of work on The Golf Club.

Both Sam Arnold and Paul Macke Jr. came within on shot, carding two-under par 7os.

Chase Wilson did the same, but that was as closes as anyone could get, giving Grove the victory.