Page 19 - The Buzz 05/15/2026

MAY 15 - 28, 2026 The SPORTS |B7
Home Course Advantage BY BLAKE BAKER | FEATURE WRITER

began eight strokes behind. Battling on at Ohio State — but Mizer made
the elements once again, they bat- it to his early 40s before “knocking
tled back. Jason Bucci chipped in an the dust off the clubs and starting to
impressive birdie amid standing wa- really play again,” he said.
ter on the second hole. On the back He could never fully stay away,
nine, Slade Bucci recorded a crucial however. After studying agronomy at
par from 150 yards away. He shot 74 Ohio State, he has made a living car-
that day, the best round of his Bish- ing for golf courses throughout cen-
ops career and the second-best round tral Ohio. His first professional visit
of any Class A golfer at that ’86 state was to Vista View, another Zanesville
match. “It made him a Rosecrans staple those storied Rosecrans
legend,” Eppley said. Mizer managed teams used as a practice course. Miz-
his way to a 155 total score (78, 77), er once worked at Zanesville County
the division’s second-best total that Club too. These days, driving home,
weekend. The Bishops won the state he passes Ohio State’s gray course
championship by two strokes. — the place where he and his child-
Forty years have passed since that hood pals won two state champion-
plucky group pulled it off. And still, ships. It’s those types of memories,
Dave Eppley
“it’s one of the happiest moments ones of the joy he experienced as a
Scott Mizer grew up on a golf boys golf team out of its golf-crazed and the best feelings that I’ve ever boy, that have allowed his passion to
course. On the second hole of Jay- clientele. Jaycees served as one of had,” Dinan declared. He, Jason blossom once again. “Some of the
cees Public Golf Course in Zanes- the main practice courses once it Bucci and Mizer reached the moun- best times I have ever had happened
ville, to be exact. It’s a venue where did. Dave Eppley, also the Bishops’ taintop again as seniors, capping on a golf course with my friends,”
he watered greens, sowed lifelong boys basketball coach at the time, an incredible, memorable four-year Mizer said. “I’m happy with myself
friendships and cultivated the roots took the reins and rode his young run with a second state title. “That for falling back in love with it.”
of two state championships at Bish- talent to the first of four straight re- was such a neat time we were able Never is he happier than when he
op Rosecrans — the only boys state gional titles. “That was a freshman to share,” Dinan reflected. “We were returns to play at Jaycees. Just like
titles in school history. dominated crew,” Eppley said about all good friends and all really close him, even though some elements
Mizer was raised in a world re- the ’85 squad, powered primarily by families. We truly grew up together have changed, its spirit remains.
volving around golf. His grandfather Mizer and Dinan. “Those guys were on those golf courses.” The clubhouse stairs sport the same
helped build Jaycees’s back nine the stars.” But glimpses of their inex- Following those glory days, Mizer wood. Familiar freight trains still
holes before serving as a longtime perience arose in a poor rain-soaked and the game grew apart. Like the rush by during his backswing. The
pro at the course. His father followed final round at the state tournament. little-watered fairways of his child- greens still roll great. “That’s home,”
suit, also becoming a pro and guid- The Bishops finished fourth in the hood home course, his enjoyment Mizer said plainly. “When I’m there,
ing Mizer’s introduction to the game state, “but we had a chance to win it had dried up. “The last thing I wanted I get this sense of calm, this sense
at age three. He went on to spend in our very first year,” Eppley said. to do was pick up a club,” Mizer, who of love.” And after years of trying to
entire summer days on the course — If they planted the seeds in ’85, they his high school coach once consid- find himself again within this great
mowing in the morning, playing non- started harvesting their greatness ered a prodigy, proclaimed. “It was game, “I get an overwhelming sense
stop until dark and tending the tee in ’86. That’s the year Jason Buc- that way for years and years after that this is where I’m supposed to
boxes and greens at night. “Golf was ci burst onto the scene. He and his high school.” His friends continued be.”
all I knew,” Mizer summarized, “and brother Slade — the Bishops’ sole their careers — Dinan at the Univer-
it was really all I wanted to do.” senior that season — had grown up sity of Akron, Jason Bucci as a walk-
Luckily, his community accom- playing summer tournaments along-
modated his competitiveness. The side Dinan and Mizer. Right away,
Zanesville District Golf Association the group’s rapport was apparent.
(ZDGA) sponsored several junior They held onto the previous year’s
tournaments every summer, some disappointment and held each other
of them at Jaycees. They pitted Mizer accountable. They developed a sys-
against dozens of other talented pre- tem of hand signals to communicate
teens from throughout the region. discretely. They showcased a chem-
Among them was David Dinan — then istry, confidence, character and ca-
a diminutive golfer from Zanesville’s pability that no other boys team in
other Catholic school, eventually one Bishop Rosecrans’s history ever has.
of Mizer’s most talented teammates. “When the weather gets colder and
“We beat up on each other during less predictable, when the ball won’t
those tournaments,” said Dinan. go as far, you have to be ready to
“But we were also genuinely helping play big boy golf,” Eppley professed.
each other, and we just enjoyed be- “Those guys could play big boy golf
ing in each other’s company playing whenever the situation called for it.”
our summer pastime.” The ’86 state tournament called for
By 1985, it was past time for Bish- it several times. Particularly during Dave Eppley
op Rosecrans to create an official the final round, which the Bishops

SPORTS SCHEDULES

(5/15 - 6/5)

BISHOP ROSECRANS PHILO ZANESVILLE ZANESVILLE JUNIOR
LEGION POST 29
BASEBALL BASEBALL BASEBALL
5/15 Miller Home 5:15PM 5/20 Maysville Home 5:00PM 5/15 Morgan Home 5:00PM (Home Games Only)
5/16 Berne Union Home 10:00AM 5/18 Dover Away 5:00PM
5/20 Malvern Home 5:00PM BASEBALL
TENNIS 5/31 Coshocton 1:00PM
TRI-VALLEY 5/18 Away 9:00AM 5/31 Coshocton 3:30PM
JOHN GLENN BASEBALL
5/15 East Knox Away 5:15PM JUNIOR PIONEERS
BASEBALL 5/18 Steubenville Away 5:00PM (Home Games Only) DRESDEN DORADOS
5/15 Buckeye Trail Home 5:00PM BASEBALL
5/19 Meadowbrook Away 5:00PM SOFTBALL 5/28 Bo Jackson 7:30PM 6/3 Granville Home 5:30PM
5/21 TBA TBA 4:00PM 6/3 TNT 7:30PM
SOFTBALL
5/18 Cambridge Home 5:00PM
ZANESVILLE SENIOR
LACROSSE WEST MUSKINGUM LEGION POST 29
5/20 Bishop Watterson Away 7:00PM
BASEBALL (Home Games Only)
5/20 Tusc Valley Home 5:00PM BASEBALL BUZZ FACTS
MAYSVILLE SOFTBALL 5/30 New Philla 12:00PM
5/18 Martins Ferry Away 5:00PM 5/30 New Philla 2:30PM The Buzz was established in 2018.
BASEBALL 6/2 Senior Pioneers 7:30PM
5/20 Philo Away 5:00PM

Sports schedules are subject to change. Please refer to each school’s website for updated scheduling information. Additions or changes to the schedule can be sent to us at info@dresdenbuzz.com.

COMICS DRAWN BY LOGAN DOTSON GRADUATES

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