FINAL RESULTS: 2019 Stark County Amateur

Maxwell Moldovan Earns a Playoff Victory

A likely future Stark County Golf Hall of Fame member beat a current one in a playoff to win the 2019 Stark County Amateur Golf Championship.

Uniontown’s Maxwell Moldovan posted even-par 72 on a blustery, difficult day at Skyland Pines Golf Course in Canton to finish in a tie with HOF Kurt Peterson of Jackson Township at 1-under par 143 for the 36 hole championship.

How that 36th hole played out was a doozie.

Akron’s Aaron Crewse and Peterson led after Round 1, having both posted scores of 3-under par 69 at Ohio Prestwick. Moldovan started the day two back. The trio swapped the lead amongst themselves early and often, as firm, fast greens and swirling winds made steady scoring difficult.

In a three-way tie heading down the last, Crewse and Moldovan found the right trees off the tee while Peterson sat in the center of the fairway. First to play, Moldovan had a window to the green and threaded it through, sending his ball down the hilly fairway toward the green. The shot took a handful hops, bounced onto the green and rolled directly at the hole, stopping just 4 inches shy of going in. The gallery (mostly Max fans) cheered wildly.

Crewse and Peterson now had to match Moldovan’s sure birdie.

Crewse had a more difficult shot. With trees blocking his way he had to go low, so his punch-runner down the hill went a bit long and left.

But Peterson answered with a truly clutch shot, lofting a wedge that bounced once just short, ran past the left edge of the hole (the gallery gasped!) and finished five feet away. The end result:

Moldovan tapped in.

Crewse tried to hole his chip but missed wide and settled for par.

Then Peterson drained the all-or-nothing birdie to tie.

In the playoff, Moldovan and Peterson both drove solidly from the tee into the fairway. Moldovan was away by about 8 yards and hit his wedge first, leaving it pin high right about 10 feet away, a very well-executed shot.

Peterson went next but missed his wedge shot heavy, coming up short. His pitch landed hard on the firm first green and skittered past the hole. When Peterson missed his 12-footer for par, it gave Moldovan a green light to roll home his birdie for the victory. Which he did, center-cut, to a loud cheer from family and friends.

Max Moldovan — Moldovan reacts to winning the 2019 Stark County Amateur in a playoff.

Moldovan adds the 2019 Stark County Am title to an eye-popping summer of winning results: three successful USGA qualifying tournaments (two as medalist); an Ohio Amateur Championship victory; a couple of AJGA titles. A big-time roll…

CANTON REPOSITORY GAME STORY: Moldovan Makes Memorable Run >

In the Senior Division 50-59, defending champion Nick Lambos of Canton kept hold of the title, posting an even par 72 as he put on a clinic in strategic golf. Lambos, also a Stark County Golf Hall of Fame member, finished at even par 144 for the tournament — good for a whopping eight-shot victory.

The round of the day at Skyland Pines came in the Senior Division 60-69, as Akron’s Rick Bryson (left) shot an incredible 35-34=69 to earn a come-from-behind win the 60+ division by four shots.

And in the Senior Division 70+, Alex Dottavio posted matching 78s to win by one.

Kudos to Tournament Directors Doug Van Nostran and Randy Young for the fine operations during the two-day Championship. Players considering competing in future Stark County Amateur Championships should note the worthwhile payouts listed below for the top contestants — heavy and deep. Gift certificates for those players will be available at Foxy Golf in Akron or Canton in the next few days. Trophies will be presented to each of the winners during the SCGHOF Banquet at Skyland Pines at the end of September…

FINAL RESULTS:
2019 Stark County Amateur Golf Championship
Ohio Prestwick Country Club, Uniontown
Skyland Pines Golf Course, Canton
Sat / Sun July 27 – 28, 2019

CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION RESULTS:

Maxwell Moldovan 71-72 143 $400* (playoff)
Kurt Peterson 69-74 143 $600
Aaron Crewse 69-75 144 $500
Shaun Kloetzer 72-75 147 $333
Jonathan Lieser 73-74 147 $333
Brian Terlesky 73-74 147 $333
Miles DeMuesy 72-76 148 $175
Gunnar McCollins 71-78 149 $125
Mitch Levengood 74-79 153 $87
Joshua Prok 74-79 153 $87
Will VanNostran 78-76 154 $50
Emmett Caskey 80-75 155
Daniel Mosher 75-82 157
Jeff Wenger 74-83 157
Jameson Ellis 79-79 158
Hunter Lowder 78-81 159
Drake VanNostran 86-73 159
Alex Anderson 79-81 160
Roberet Belden 79-81 160
Kyle Freudeman 78-82 160
Tim Hepner 81-79 160
Rich Mastcko 78-82 160
Lance Strang 82-78 160
Brock Hawkins 82-80 162
Mark Mokros 78-84 162
Jake Barth 83-85 168
Max Congeni 90-88 178
Vincent Grosso 88-94 182
Sullivan Ochs 92-90 182

* – OHSAA maximum

CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION SKINS:

Ohio Prestwick CC Skins: $28 ea
Shaun Kloetzer #2
Aaron Crewse #3
Aaron Crewse #7
Brock Hawkins #8
Robert Belden #16

Skyland Pines Skins: $35 ea
Vincent Grosso #2
Mitch Levengood #11
Aaron Crewse #12
Tim Hepner #13

SENIOR DIVISION 50-59 RESULTS:

Nick Lambos 72-72 144 $600
Bobby Spino 69-83 152 $500
Tim DeMuesy 78-75 153 $375
Mark Thomas 77-76 153 $375
Allen Freeman 75-81 156 $300
Jeff Semple 81-76 157 $150
Dave Trier 76-81 157 $150
Paul Murray 85-73 158 $100
Douglas Fleming 77-82 159 $50
Bob Wadsworth 79-81 160
Jeff Barbas 80-82 162
Steve Feist 78-85 163
Mike Tirmonia 78-85 163
John Toth 80-84 164
Geoffrey Burge 85-77 165
Dave Freudeman 81-84 165
Scott Hawkins 87-82 169
Mario Pizzino 85-87 172
Brian Lane 85-88 173
Bill Mooney 85-88 173
Doug Hull 86-97 183
Jeff Mirelli 92-94 186

SENIOR DIVISION 60-69 RESULTS:

Rick Bryson 76-69 145 $600
Jim Cea 78-71 149 $450
Bruno Chirumbolo 76-76 152 $350
Larry Lannan 73-80 153 $237
Fred Miller 77-76 153 $237
Lou Boarman 80-78 158 $125
Mike Hart 78-82 160 $100
Keith Pluto 82-81 163 $25
Sam Spino 77-86 163 $25
Haidet 88-80 168
Ron Miller 82-88 170
Mark Blanc 83-89 172
Steve Wilson 86-89 175