4735 Richmond Rd., Warrensville Heights, OH 44128
Email: nohio@pgahq.com Website: Northern Ohio Office: (216) 765-1214
Click here to view Northern Ohio PGA Section's Staff Listing
Click here to view Northern Ohio PGA Section's Board of Directors
••••••
CANFIELD, Ohio: Toledo Country Club Head Professional Jaysen Hansen shot a stress-free, 3-under 69 to win the 75th Professional Championship conducted by the Northern Ohio Professional Golfers Association at Tippecanoe Country Club.
It marked the second time Hansen, a former head pro at Beechmont Country Club, has won one of the most coveted tournaments in the NOPGA. He won previously in 2020.
Hansen’s second straight 69 – he was the only player in the final field of 28 to shoot three straight sub-par rounds – gave him a 54-hole score of 7-under 209 and at a three-shot victory over three-time champion Jim Troy (75-70-67=212), an instructor at The Golf Dome. Canterbury Golf Club Assistant Professional Anthony Panepento finished third with rounds of 76-67-70=213.
The top five players in the Section tournament will qualify for the 58th PGA Professional National Championship, to be held Apr. 26-29, 2026 in Bandon, Oregon at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort. Four alternate spots were also awarded.
The Professional Championship is the FINAL event to determine the regular division NOPGA team for the 29th Ohio Cup Matches. The top nine point-leaders and one captain’s choice in the Regular Division, and the top five and one captain’s pick in the Senior Division will make up NOPGA team when it takes on the Southern Ohio PGA squad at Wedgewood Golf and Country Club in Powell, Ohio, on Oct. 7-8.
The other qualifiers are Belmont Country Club and the 2019 champion Mike Stone (72-73-69=214) and Optimus Golf owner Mark Sierak (71-73-72=216).
While this was Hansen’s second win in this event he has qualified for the national stage 17 times.
By Tim Rogers, NOPGA Media
Kip Freeman’s love for golf began the way many lifelong passions do—by following in his father’s footsteps. Growing up, he would occasionally tag along to Pleasant Hills Golf Course, where the owner graciously let him play for free. While Freeman enjoyed other sports during his early years, it wasn’t until he was 17 or 18 that golf truly took hold. At the time, he was working multiple jobs when an article about the San Diego Golf Academy caught his eye. Intrigued by the idea of becoming a golf professional, he enrolled in the two-year program, graduating with six credits toward PGA membership.
His journey through the golf industry began in 1982 and included stops at Tulsa Country Club, Pleasant Hill, and then three formative years at TPC Sawgrass. He later joined Bob Bourne at Beechmont Country Club for two seasons and managed a driving range before earning his PGA membership in 1994.
This year, Freeman celebrates his 30th season at Punderson State Park Golf Course, where he serves as the Regional Director of Golf Operations for the Ohio State Park system. In this role, he oversees five facilities across the state: Punderson, Maumee Bay, Hueston Woods, Deer Creek, and Salt Fork. Though the reach of his leadership spans multiple courses, his full-time presence remains at Punderson.
For Freeman, the most meaningful moments over the past three decades have little to do with scorecards and far more to do with relationships. He speaks often about the time he’s spent with the Kenston High School golf teams and the success and camaraderie they’ve built together. That connection began one winter when Freeman was in California, where he had spent 15 seasons as a Director of Golf during Ohio’s off-seasons. One day, he received a call from the athletic director at Kenston asking if he knew anyone interested in coaching either the boys or girls golf teams. After discussing it with his wife, Freeman decided to take on the role of girls glf coach, having already worked with many of the players on the team. Now in his 16th season as head coach, he has led the program to 11 conference championships and sits at 197 career victories, with hopes of reaching his 200th win in the coming weeks.
Teaching the game remains Freeman’s greatest passion. Over the course of his career, he estimates giving nearly 40,000 lessons—once giving 22 lessons in a single day. He finds immense joy in working with juniors and helping them not only refine their swings but also navigate the challenges of life. Watching them grow, succeed, and return to say thank you is a reward that transcends any leaderboard.
Freeman’s impact extends well beyond the golf course. At Berkshire Schools, where he and his own children attended, he has long been a fixture in the athletic department. He began by working the football chain gang when his son was in seventh grade and eventually started running the scorebooks for basketball games. Today, he serves as the varsity assistant basketball coach and, as of 2024, has taken on the additional role of Assistant Sports Coordinator for the school district. Whether helping with flag football or supporting student-athletes across multiple sports, Freeman is deeply embedded in his community.
His approach to leadership is rooted in humility and empathy. “I just try to treat everyone the way I’d want to be treated,” Freeman says. “I appreciate everyone who comes to Punderson. I treat this place like I own it. I ask myself ‘If I owned it, what would I do?’” That mindset, passed down from his father—a businessman who ran a gas station for over 40 years—has guided his entire career. After retiring, Kip’s father came to work at Punderson. His brother, son, daughter, and even granddaughter have all worked there as well. It’s not just a place of employment—it’s a second home.
Freeman continues to feel a deep sense of gratitude for a life built around the game he loves. “If you find something you love to do, it’s not a job,” he says.
By Danielle Monas
