Now THAT is how you win a golf tournament.
Playing together in the first ever group of the first ever Northeast Ohio Golf Stroke Play Series event, Shayne Bishop of Barberton battled it out down the stretch with Mark Borlin of Solon at Fox Den Golf Course in Stow on Sunday.
The pair matched solid shots and well-holed putts for most of the day. Heading into the final hole, Bishop was at 1-under par for the round and led Borlin by a single shot.
After crisp tee shots, both players had flip wedges from inside 100 yards remaining to the 18th green.
Borlin went first and knocked it on, giving himself a long birdie chance to tie Bishop.
But instead of allowing him any hope, Bishop fired his wedge shot directly at the hole. To cheers of “go in” with the ball still in the air, the shot bounced straight, rolled smoothly for about ten feet, and dripped perfectly into the bottom of the cup.
Jaws dropped. Arms raised. It was a stunning close-out. It was a big skin. And it was a 3-under par total of 69.
Even Borlin cheered loudly for the amazing shot.
Two groups later, 61-year old Fred Miller of Aurora also began the 18th hole at 1-under par for the day. He had his own chance to tie Bishop if he could figure out a way to make an eagle-2 hole-out from the 18th fairway. Miller managed but a par, however his 1-under total of 71 was good enough to finish alone in second place, one shot ahead of Borlin.
Forty-four amateur players ranging in ages from early-20s to mid-60s competed together on a spectacular sunny spring day, a rousing success for the launch of the Series. Having all of the players in one division using age-appropriate tee boxes was unanimously hailed as fun and fair — and made for great prize and skin amounts.
The Northeast Ohio Golf Stroke Play Series Event #2 will be played on Sunday, May 22 at Chippewa Golf Club in Doylestown. We look forward to another exciting competition…
FINAL RESULTS:
2016 Northeast Ohio Golf
Stroke Play Series Event #1
Fox Den Golf Course, Stow, OH
Sunday, April 17, 2016 | Par 72
Shayne Bishop 69 $750
Fred Miller 71 $500
Mark Borlin 72 $300
Rob Schustrich 73 $175
AJ Borisa 73 $175
Dave Sotka 74 $87
Larry Lahnan 74 $87
Ron Bell 75 $50
Jack Garswood 76 $25
Brian Huntley 76 $25
Jeff Godzak 76 $25
Larry Russell 77
Ed Marsinek 77
Ty Kovach 77
Mark Schneider 78
Alex Loftin 78
Scott Cesen 79
Paul Ajak III 79
Tim Cebula 80
Jim Cea 80
Mark Thomas 80
Brian Polick 80
Andrew Malkus 80
Randy Crider 81
Tom Ream 81
Dave Trier 82
Dan Marr 82
Allen Freeman 83
Lou Boarman 83
Randy Steele 83
John Topeka 84
Ryan Prickette 84
Steve Gaetjens 84
Ted Kruse 84
Dennis Berkheimer 84
Kyle Matus 85
Josh Prokop 85
Dan Fearer 85
Ryan Malkus 85
Chris Davis 86
Dan Terry 87
Raul Mendoza 87
Scott Gaetjens 90
Russ Rybka 91
SKINS: $220 ea
Dan Marr Eagle 2 Hole #1
Ted Kruse Eagle 3 Hole #7
Jack Garswood Birdie 3 Hole #13
Shayne Bishop Eagle 2 Hole #18
Players can email golf@NEOHgolf.com to make arrangements for uncollected prizes.
