Gary Rusnak of Santa Rosa Beach, FL had the low score of the tournament Tuesday then survived a shaky finish Wednesday to earn his first victory on the Sunbelt Senior Professional Golf Tour.
Playing in the Triv’s Restaurant Cleveland Senior Open at Columbia Hills, Rusnak opened with six under par 65 on Tuesday. He jumped well ahead with some early good play on Wednesday, but then made bogeys on three of the last five holes for a 72 and 137 total. Even with this finish, Rusank won by three strokes. He made seven birdies and a bogey the first day, two birdies and three bogeys the second, earning $6,000 from the $23,500 purse.
Britt Pavelonis of Harrisburg, Ill., was second among 23 starters on 69-71—140. He had 10 birdies, six bogeys and a double bogey the final round, collecting $4,800.
Bob Kurtz of Cullmam, Ala., won the Legends Division for players 57 and older with 77-79—156, receiving $1,100 from the $ 2,700 purse.
The Sunbelt Senior Tour plays another 36-hole tournament Thursday and Friday, the Cleveland Senior Classic at Club Walden in nearby Aurora.
Thanks to Sunbelt Senior Tour for its generous donation to the Ohio Girls Golf Foundation to grow the game of golf for girls in Ohio, courtesy of the Triv’s Cleveland Senior Open!
FINAL RESULTS: Sunbelt Senior Tour
2019 Triv’s Restaurant Cleveland Senior Open
Columbia Hills, Columbia Station, Ohio
Tues/Weds, June 18-19, 2019
OPEN DIVISION
1 Gary Rusnak Santa Rosa Beach, FL 65 – 72 = 137 $6,000.00
2 Britt Pavelonis Harrisburg, IL 69 – 71 = 140 $4,800.00
3 Ron Schroeder Montgomery, TX 71 – 70 = 141 $3,700.00
4 Dennis Hendershott Brantford, ON 68 – 74 = 142 $3,000.00
5 Roger Rowland Jacksonville, FL 71 – 72 = 143 $2,500.00
T6 Robin Byrd Satellite Beach, FL 73 – 72 = 145 $1,750.00
T6 David Morland IV Palm Coast, FL 71 – 74 = 145 $1,750.00
T8 Tim Conley Braselton, GA 77 – 69 = 146
T8 Brian Bane Bonita, CA 72 – 74 = 146
T8 David Plumb Bowling Green, KY 72 – 74 = 146
T11 Gary Trivisonno Aurora, OH 74 – 74 = 148
T11 Matt Mankin Roanoke, VA 73 – 75 = 148
13 Mark Caffee (AM) Wildwood, FL 74 – 75 = 149
T14 Bob Flanagan Lawrenceville, GA 77 – 74 = 151
T14 Walt Robertson Cleveland, OH 76 – 75 = 151
16 iky Esteves Carolina, PR 81 – 71 = 152
T17 David Noto Clarkesville, GA 82 – 72 = 154
T17 Michael Rickard Corydon, KY 77 – 77 = 154
19 Steven Shaw Brecksville, OH 76 – 79 = 155
20 Matt Cook Spring, TX 80 – 82 = 162
21 Robert Berkheimer (AM) Brunswick, OH 80 – 85 = 165
WD David Noto Clarkesville, GA
NC Russ Papa Bedford Heights, OH
NC Steve Kranick Mahtomedi, MN
LEGENDS DIVISION
1 Bob Kurtz Cullman, AL 77 – 79 = 156 $1,100.00
T2 Ron Miller (AM) Willoughby, OH 80 – 79 = 159 $750.00
T2 Bobby Luzzi Williamsburg, VA 76 – 83 = 159 $850.00
4 Mike Mercer Hot Springs Village, AR 86 – 76 = 162
5 John Whitty Longs, SC 79 – 84 = 163
6 Randy Kennedy Buford, GA 88 – 83 = 171
– Game story courtesy of Larry Bush, Media Representative, Sunbelt Senior Tour
