GANGLUFF WINS SECOND OHIO OPEN TITLE WITH STIRRING RALLY AND PLAYOFF BIRDIE
Dramatic finishes are not uncommon in the Davey Tree / Minute Men Ohio Open.
The 98th version of the event — presented by Pyramid Testing & Meritech – was one for the ages, however, as 43-year-old Stephen Gangluff roared from behind to win in a 3-man playoff on Wednesday at the Weymouth Club.
Gangluff, of Delaware, shot a final-round 5-under 67 to join fast-closing Alex Weiss, of Pickerington, and Barberton’s Chase Johnson in a first-place tie with 54-hole scores of 16-under-par 200.
He birdied the first playoff hole by making a 6-foot putt to pocket the first-place check of $9,000 and become the first back-to-back winner since Bob Wynn, won three straight in 1970, 1971 and 1972.
Only eight others have won consecutive titles and Gangluff becomes the 15th player to win more than once, joining the likes of Denny Shute, Byron Nelson, Bob Shave Jr., Herman Keiser and Frank Stranahan.
Johnson and Weiss set tournament scoring records during the three days but it was Gangluff, a teaching pro at The Club of Tartan Fields in Dublin who hoisted the Commodore Perry Hotel Trophy.
On a day when nearly half the field of 51 broke par-72, no one was as electrifying as Weiss, a native of Pickerington and Marshall University graduate.
Weiss, 23, set a Weymouth competitive course record with an 11-under par 61 and had tourney officials on the “59 watch” until the 16th hole.
To that point Weiss, who has competed on the Latinoamerica Tour, had made seven birdies and an eagle to vault himself into contention after starting the day 10 shots out of the lead.
Pars at 15 and 16, with a lip-out of a birdie attempt at 15, eliminated his chance at 59, but kept him to within one or two strokes of 36-hole leader Johnson, whose driver and wedge foiled his bid to win what essentially is the state championship.
Weiss made putts from every spot other than the cart barn, pro shop and clubhouse. There was a 25-footer at the second, a 12-foot uphiller on three, a 20-footer on four, another uphiller, this time from 18 feet on five, and an 8-footer on eight. He capped his front nine 29 by chipping in from 30 feet on the last.
He duplicated the chip-in on 18 after making three other birdies en route to a 4-under 32 on the closing nine.
“I guess you could say I got into one of those zones, where everything made sense,” said Weiss. “I mean, it’s almost like you black out. Everything you do or try goes just the way you envisioned it. Every read is the right one, every stroke, every club. Everything just seems perfect.”
Johnson, the Barberton native and former Kent State star, had taken the drama out of the tournament with rounds of 10-under 62 and 5-under 67 and had a 4-shot lead over Gangluff and Kirtland’s Alex Andrews when play began. His opening 62 at Fox Meadow was a course record as well.
Johnson reached 18-under par and seemingly was in great shape after closing the front with birdies on the final two holes.
However, he fought his driver most of the day and it finally caught up to him on the back nine. Errant tee shots led to bogeys on three of the final six holes. It also prevented him from his bread-and-butter of making birdie on the par-5s.
Back-breaking bogeys came on the 420-yard 16th and 470-yard 18th, when accuracy was paramount to success. He found the fairway bunker on 16, which left him with an awkward stance. His second came up about 10 yards short of the green and he then left his chip 10 feet short and missed the par putt.
Johnson, who is caddying at Barrington before returning to the Latinoamerica Tour, found trouble on 18 when he pushed his drive into a tree in the right rough and had a low-hanging branch partially obstructing his path to the green. He was forced to lay up, hit a poor pitch and missed a 12-foot putt for par, forcing a playoff.
Gangluff, who edged Nathan Tarter by one shot in winning last year, wasted no time in gaining an edge on the playoff hole. His drive went to the right side of the fairway and his second came to rest about six feet to the left of the hole.
“I had 180-some yards to the hole and I was just trying to get it on the green,” he said. “When I hit it I thought it had gone long but then I heard the fans clapping and figured it was pretty good.”
After opening the tournament with a 3-under 69 at Weymouth, he zoomed into contention with an 8-under 64 at Fox Meadow on Tuesday. He has gone 63-64-64 in his last three rounds at Fox.
“This is awesome for me to win here again,” said Gangluff, who played for coach Jim Brown at Ohio State. “I wanted to win and felt like I could. I’ve been playing solidly all year.”
Nothing was more solid than his charge on the back nine, where he made three straight birdies and four in a five-hole stretch to get to 16-under through 52 holes. A wedge shot from 121 yards led to a birdie on the 16th and gave him a lift.
“That was the first time I really felt like I had a chance,” he said. “I mean, when I was standing on the ninth tee and was down six shots and you would have told me I had a chance to win I wouldn’t have believed you.”
The guy ultimately made believers of us all.
– story by Tim Rogers, courtesy of the Northern Ohio PGA
Photo Gallery: 2019 Ohio Open Rd3 >
FINAL RESULTS: Northern Ohio PGA
98TH DAVEY TREE/MINUTE MEN OHIO OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
presented by PYRAMID TREATING / MERITECH, INC.
Fox Meadow CC and Weymouth Club, Medina, OH
Monday, July 1 – Wednesday, July 3
Stephen Gangluff, Delaware, OH 69 – 64 – 67 = 200 $9,000.00 (playoff)
Alex Weiss, Pickerington, OH 70 – 69 – 61 = 200 $4,500.00
Chase Johnson, Barberton, OH 62 – 67 – 71 = 200 $4,500.00
Tyler Light, Strasburg, OH 66 – 68 – 68 = 202 $3,000.00
Jeg Coughlin III (a), Delaware, OH 70 – 64 – 70 = 204 $750.00
Jake Scott, Strongsville, OH 68 – 69 – 68 = 205 $1,900.00
Alex Andrews, Kirtland, OH 65 – 68 – 72 = 205 $1,900.00
Tyler McHugh, Aurora, OH 69 – 70 – 67 = 206 $1,600.00
Ryan Troyer, Dover, OH 71 – 70 – 66 = 207 $1,300.00
Chase Wilson, Zanesville, OH 70 – 69 – 68 = 207 $1,300.00
Kevin Hall, Cincinnati, OH 71 – 66 – 71 = 208 $950.00
Jim Troy, Mount Vernon, OH 68 – 69 – 71 = 208 $950.00
Jacob McBride, Hartville, OH 70 – 71 – 68 = 209 $750.00
Bob Sowards, Dublin, OH 71 – 69 – 69 = 209 $750.00
David Tepe, Lewis Center, OH 70 – 71 – 69 = 210 $558.00
David Lutterus, Nashport, OH 68 – 72 – 70 = 210 $558.00
TT Crouch, Mount Vernon, OH 71 – 70 – 69 = 210 $558.00
Brayden Baldridge (a), Howard, OH 68 – 73 – 69 = 210 $533.00
Benjamin Jones (a), Strongsville, OH 69 – 71 – 70 = 210 $533.00
Austin Sipe (a), Dayton, OH 68 – 71 – 71 = 210 $533.00
Jaysen Hansen, Solon, OH 67 – 72 – 72 = 211 $475.00
Jake Appleby, Canton, OH 70 – 68 – 73 = 211 $475.00
Michael Balcar, Sylvania, OH 69 – 69 – 73 = 211 $475.00
Rodrigue Vie (a), Bowling Green, OH 71 – 69 – 71 = 211 $400.00
Patrick Luth, Medina, OH 67 – 73 – 72 = 212 $442.00
Brian Ohr, Oxford, OH 68 – 74 – 70 = 212 $442.00
Logan Lagodich, Canton, OH 72 – 70 – 70 = 212 $442.00
Austin Schoonmaker (a), Maineville, OH 67 – 73 – 72 = 212 $350.00
Avery Schneider, New Albany, OH 70 – 73 – 70 = 213 $425.00
Mike Auterson, Milford, OH 70 – 73 – 70 = 213 $425.00
Aaron Apticar (a), Akron, OH 70 – 71 – 72 = 213 $300.00
Ben Smith, Westfield Center, OH 70 – 70 – 74 = 214 $400.00
Taylor Suggs, Cincinnati, OH 71 – 70 – 73 = 214 $400.00
Jared Howard, Dublin, OH 68 – 74 – 72 = 214 $400.00
John Powers, Bowling Green, OH 70 – 73 – 71 = 214 $400.00
Sean McGuire (a), Twinsburg, OH 70 – 71 – 73 = 214 $262.00
Connor Curry (a), Mount Vernon, OH 72 – 69 – 73 = 214 $262.00
Derrick DeHart, Dayton, OH 68 – 74 – 73 = 215 $350.00
Jack Kozlowski (a), Columbus, OH 64 – 77 – 74 = 215 $211.00
Troy Taylor II (a), Westerville, OH 72 – 69 – 74 = 215 $211.00
Grant Engle (a), Springfield, OH 68 – 73 – 74 = 215 $211.00
Cameron Frazier (a), Cincinnati, OH 72 – 71 – 72 = 215 $211.00
Beau Bayerl (a), Ashland, OH 71 – 70 – 75 = 216 $200.00
Ken Kinkopf (a), Dublin, OH 72 – 70 – 74 = 216 $200.00
Joe Meglen, Lakewood, OH 69 – 74 – 74 = 217 $350.00
Connor Stykemain (a), Defiance, OH 67 – 76 – 74 = 217 $200.00
Dylan Van Fossen (a), Norwich, OH 69 – 73 – 76 = 218 $200.00
Matthew Wetherill, Loveland, OH 73 – 67 – 79 = 219 $350.00
Andy Montgomery, Plain City, OH 70 – 72 – 78 = 220 $350.00
Christopher McKay, Columbus, OH 71 – 71 – 79 = 221 $325.00
Grant Godfrey (a), Delaware, OH 69 – 74 – 78 = 221 $200.00
MISSED CUT:
Gunnar McCollins (a) Massillon, OH 68 – 76 = 144
Josh Gilkison (a) Springboro, OH 68 – 76 = 144
Tony Adcock Canton, OH 73 – 71 = 144
Kyle Kellogg Upper Arlington 72 – 72 = 144
Kurt Fortman (a) Cincinnati, OH 73 – 72 = 145
Jonathan Riemer (a) Cleveland, OH 70 – 75 = 145
Ben Hogan (a) Elyria, OH 73 – 72 = 145
Mitchell McFarland (a) Wheelersburg, OH 72 – 73 = 145
Joshua Prok (a) Coventry Township, OH 72 – 73 = 145
Dhaivat Pandya (a) Dayton, OH 71 – 74 = 145
Chris Williard (a) Blacklick, OH 73 – 72 = 145
Randy Dietz Tallmadge, OH 73 – 72 = 145
Jay Schiffbauer Fairport Harbor, OH 73 – 72 = 145
Nick Contini Granville, OH 71 – 74 = 145
Trevor Bowman (a) Upper Sandusky, OH 70 – 76 = 146
Trevor Bright Newark, OH 71 – 75 = 146
Joseph Moore Englewood, OH 76 – 70 = 146
Ross Beal Uniontown, OH 72 – 74 = 146
Caleb Wittig Reynoldsburg, OH 75 – 71 = 146
Dustin Lieber Norwalk, OH 72 – 74 = 146
Dennis Holub Twinsburg, OH 74 – 72 = 146
Cory Kumpf Massillon, OH 74 – 72 = 146
Patrick Milkovich Chagrin Falls, OH 71 – 75 = 146
Jules Blakely (a) Westlake, OH 69 – 78 = 147
Camden Solomon (a) Dublin, OH 75 – 72 = 147
Caleb Westfall (a) Mechanicsburg, OH 78 – 69 = 147
David Morgan Wellington, OH 73 – 74 = 147
Paul Macke Cincinnati, OH 75 – 72 = 147
Nathan Tarter Akron, OH 75 – 72 = 147
Mitchell Camp Aurora, OH 72 – 75 = 147
Jake Daly Cincinnati, OH 75 – 72 = 147
Zachary Supelak (a) Copley, OH 77 – 71 = 148
Alexander Velasco (a) Dayton, OH 75 – 73 = 148
Jack Kunkel (a) Sylvania, OH 72 – 76 = 148
Michael Lee (a) Strongsville, OH 71 – 77 = 148
Tommy Sullinger (a) Sylvania, OH 76 – 72 = 148
Mason Eckley Maineville, OH 76 – 72 = 148
Rob Smyser Broadview Heights, OH 75 – 73 = 148
Zack Wax Sardis, OH 77 – 71 = 148
Craig Goldsberry Lewis Center, OH 71 – 77 = 148
Chris Capriolo Westlake, OH 73 – 75 = 148
John Chaney North ridgeville, OH 74 – 74 = 148
Nick Montes (a) Pickerington, OH 72 – 77 = 149
Daniel Mosher (a) North Canton, OH 75 – 74 = 149
Matthew Wetterich (a) Cincinnati, OH 75 – 74 = 149
Dylan Erks (a) Clinton, OH 76 – 73 = 149
Jake Kehoe (a) Powell, OH 77 – 72 = 149
Dylan Kaufman (a) Benton, OH 73 – 76 = 149
Brian Bir Cleveland, OH 74 – 75 = 149
Garrett Brickley Pickerington, OH 73 – 76 = 149
Tyler Overberg (a) West Chester, OH 73 – 77 = 150
Harrison Vonderau (a) Columbia Station, OH 76 – 74 = 150
Mike Stone Perrysburg, OH 75 – 75 = 150
Nick Gustin Perry, OH 76 – 74 = 150
Addison Cortez Alexandria, OH 73 – 77 = 150
Alan Fadel (a) Perrysburg, OH 77 – 74 = 151
Dylan Fitchet (a) Conneaut, OH 75 – 76 = 151
Kyle Buzaki (a) Stow, OH 77 – 74 = 151
Conor Mead (a) Amherst, OH 76 – 75 = 151
Jarrod Kasunick (a) Massillon, OH 74 – 77 = 151
Cooper Hrabak (a) Medina, OH 74 – 77 = 151
Jonathan Barber (a) Medina, OH 70 – 81 = 151
Steve Parker Akron, OH 79 – 72 = 151
Gary Robison North Canton, OH 76 – 75 = 151
David Wetterich Cincinnati, OH 73 – 78 = 151
Richard Denny Germantown, OH 75 – 76 = 151
Joey Krecic Columbia Station, OH 77 – 74 = 151
Chris Black Lancaster, OH 73 – 78 = 151
DJ Smith (a) Parma, OH 72 – 80 = 152
Jacob English (a) Westerville, OH 81 – 71 = 152
Roni Shin (a) Rocky River, OH 76 – 76 = 152
Dan Belden (a) Massillon, OH 78 – 74 = 152
David Laib (a) Wadsworth, OH 73 – 79 = 152
Alec Adcock (a) Canton, OH 76 – 76 = 152
Tom Atchison Silver Lake, OH 76 – 76 = 152
Tyler Maranville Uniontown, OH 77 – 75 = 152
Carl Rolla Aurora, OH 75 – 77 = 152
Jonathon Knapp (a) Uniontown, OH 80 – 73 = 153
Matthew McAdoo (a) Twinsburg, OH 74 – 79 = 153
Cole Christman (a) Youngstown, OH 73 – 80 = 153
Ross Williamson (a) Medina, OH 75 – 78 = 153
Dave Goda (a) Eucli, OH 76 – 77 = 153
Jordan Paolini Akron, OH 79 – 74 = 153
Josh Widner NW Massillon, OH 74 – 79 = 153
Asaeli Batibasaga Mount Vernon, OH 74 – 79 = 153
Christopher Muse Hilliard, OH 76 – 77 = 153
Will Kurtz (a) Hudson, OH 75 – 79 = 154
Mike Kaido Zanesville, OH 75 – 79 = 154
Ted Mandes Gates Mills, OH 74 – 80 = 154
Bob Koch Medina, OH 75 – 79 = 154
Kyle Sanders Maineville, OH 72 – 82 = 154
Derek Hamm (a) Heath, OH 75 – 80 = 155
John Peck (a) Ashland, OH 74 – 81 = 155
Brandon Obermiller North Canton, OH 77 – 78 = 155
Walt Robertson Cleveland, OH 78 – 77 = 155
Fred Huston Loveland, OH 79 – 76 = 155
Tony Mollica Dublin, OH 76 – 79 = 155
Jake Moraca (a) Strongsville, OH 79 – 77 = 156
Trent Tipton (a) Orient, OH 80 – 77 = 157
Brennan Komos (a) Richfield, OH 75 – 82 = 157
Nick Mollica (a) Dublin, OH 76 – 81 = 157
Mark Scott Jr. Medina, OH 79 – 78 = 157
Jack McKelvey Chagrin Falls, OH 72 – 85 = 157
Ryan Sikora (a) Avon, OH 75 – 83 = 158
Coury Rogers (a) Granville, OH 76 – 82 = 158
Kaleb Smith (a) Mansfield, OH 78 – 80 = 158
Colton Vincelette (a) Wadsworth, OH 80 – 78 = 158
Alex Vegh (a) Columbus, OH 82 – 76 = 158
Miles Demuesy (a) Clinton, OH 81 – 77 = 158
Hunter Lowder (a) Brewster, OH 78 – 81 = 159
Emmett Caskey (a) Uniontown, OH 80 – 79 = 159
Cade Kreps (a) Youngstown, OH 75 – 84 = 159
Melissa Yeazell West Chester, OH 82 – 77 = 159
Austin Rohrer (a) Canton, OH 75 – 85 = 160
John Connelly Perrysburg, OH 83 – 77 = 160
Corbin Stykemain (a) Defiance, OH 82 – 79 = 161
Jared Wilson (a) Columbiana, OH 79 – 82 = 161
Thomas Lydic Solon, OH 82 – 79 = 161
Trent Maxwell Akron, OH 84 – 78 = 162
Jake Nolan (a) Upper Arlington, OH 78 – 85 = 163
Nathan Strack (a) Avon, OH 80 – 83 = 163
Daniel Terry Wadsworth, OH 87 – 76 = 163
Tyler Ankrom (a) Akron, OH 77 – 87 = 164
Matt Donahoe (a) North Olmsted, OH 77 – 87 = 164
Larry King Cincinnati, OH 87 – 79 = 166
David Reiter Jr Brunswick, OH 85 – 81 = 166
Bruce Yoder (a) Millersburg, OH 80 – 87 = 167
Adam Filo (a) Norton, OH 79 – 88 = 167
Alex Tambellini (a) East Liverpool, OH 84 – 83 = 167
Todd Ekstrand Broadview Hts 85 – 82 = 167
Collin McEndree Akron, OH 79 – 89 = 168
Adam Stinogle Stow, OH 91 – 79 = 170
Drake Van Nostran (a) North Canton, OH 88 – 86 = 174
Scott Siler Brunswick, OH 79 – 95 = 174
Nathan Fousek (a) Medina, OH 94 – 91 = 185
WD Jesse Terbrueggen Cincinnati, OH
DQ Scott Pollack Chagrin Falls, OH
WD Peter Betzold (a) West Chester, OH
WD Brian Smith (a) Amherst, OH
DQ Aaron Crewse (a) Akron, OH
NC Andrew Malkus (a) Maple Heights, OH
WD Luke Schlicher Springfield, OH
WD Justin Miller Barberton, OH
