Borrowing a term from the coverage of the PGA, it was moving day at the final round of the 50th Portage County Senior Amateur as the leaders from Saturday ran into difficulty retaining their number one spot thanks to outstanding scores fired by golfers down the leaderboard.
On a beautiful day at Windmill Lakes Golf Club in Ravenna, golfers in three age divisions as seniors ranging from age 50 to 82 took to the fairways.
SENIOR DIVISION (Age 50-59)
Mark Borlin of Stow has competed in tournaments throughout the summer with his best finish a second at the Northern Ohio Amateur and a fourth place at the Ohio Senior Amateur.
Going into Sunday’s round, he was in unfamiliar territory, tied for the top of the leaderboard with Bobby Wadsworth of North Canton.
Wadsworth had already proved his golf expertise at the 90th Portage County Amateur, earning fifth place after playing against everyone regardless of age from the tips at Sugar Bush and Windmill.
On Sunday, Borlin finally gained the championship alone, carding a four-over-par 74 to go with his two-over-par 72 at Sugarbush for a one-stroke victory.
Borlin who lives around the corner from Fox Den and just joined Silver Lake Country Club this season, played for Ohio University after high school and loves to compete.
“It’s nice to win one,” said Borlin.
Dennis Lawler of Hudson (left) moved from the logjam of 78s at fifth place to the runner-up spot, carding the low round of the Senior Division, an even-par 70 at Windmill.
Lawler spends his time away from his playing time on the golf course coaching the Hudson Girls varsity basketball team and supporting his children who play for teams ranging from middle school golf at Hudson to a daughter playing basketball at Hiram College in her freshman year.
Wadsworth, leader in the first round, dropped to third with a round of 77.
The 2019 champion, Geoffrey Burge of Aurora, fired a two-day total of 153 to earn fourth place over David Stover of Pepper Pike in a scorecard playoff.
Troy Luckenbaugh of Uniontown did his best to move into the top five from 14th place on Sunday. Luckenbaugh fired a one-over-par 71 to move into sixth place on the leaderboard.
GOLD DIVISION (Ages 60-69)
In the most dramatic jump of the tournament, John Sloe of Aurora leaped over eight competitors when he fired the low round of the tournament at Windmill, a three-under-par 67 to overtake first round leader Jim Herchek of Chagrin Falls.
Sloe shot a 35, one-over-par, for the front nine and then had no touble navigating the back nine at Windmill, carding a four-under-par 31 for that 67 total.
With his son, Chris Sloe, on the bag, John could do no wrong.
“My son is why I win,” said Sloe who fired a low round, a 69 in the Portage County Senior Amateur when the first day was at the now-closed Oak Knolls in Kent and when he won the Club Walden’s club championship last week.
Chris Sloe was an outstanding golfer for Aurora, finishes regularly in the top five of the Portage County Amateur, won the Junior Amateur when he was in high school and played for John Carroll University. Good caddie to have on the bag.
Sloe edged out Gary Contin of Chesterland who had an outstanding round of his own, firing a 71 to finish second with a 142 total.
Jim Herchek of Chagrin Falls, the first-round leader fired a 74, good for third place.
PLATINUM DIVISION (Age 70 and older)
Gerald Musiel of Chagrin Falls looked as if he would defend his 2019 championship, firing a 72 on Saturday for a three-stroke lead over David Pifer of Garrettsville.
But lurking in third place was Ken Krupa of North Royalton who had tied Pifer with a 75.
On Sunday, he topped the championship pairing with an even-par 70 to leap into first place and win by four strokes over Musiel.
Krupa has had a solid year of golf, winning the 70+ Division of the Cleveland Metro Parks Senior Amateur, but his proudest moments are spent with his grandchildren on the golf course. His daughter is a PGA professional, Jennifer Creech, and all enjoy playing golf as a family.
Musiel finished second with a final day total of 77 and Don Schaeffer moved up the leaderboard following his three-over-par round of 73 to third.
David Pifer of Garrettsville, the starter for the Portage County Amateur at Sugar Bush, fired a 77 on his final day to finish in fourth place.
FINAL RESULTS:
50TH PORTAGE COUNTY SENIOR AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Sugar Bush Golf Club, Garrettsville, Sat Aug 29
Windmill Lakes Golf Club, Ravenna, Sun Aug 30
SENIOR DIVISION (age 50-59)
Mark Borlin, Stow 146
Dennis Lawler, Hudson 148
Bobby Wadsworth, North Canton 149
Geoffrey Buge, Aurora 153
David Stover, Pepper Pike 153
Troy Luckenbaugh, Uniontown 154
William Jenkins, Canton 155
Jeff Campbell, Canton 156
Brian Miller, Barberton 159
Randy Wilburn, Diamond 159
Anthony Turrall, Bay Village 160
Ed Marsinek, Streetsboro 160
Chuck Richardson, Warren 161
Jeff Jenkins, Barberton 162
Leo Szcepanski, Seven Hills 170
Bill Furey, Twinsburg 177
John Sales, Akron 181
Eric Ernsberger, Diamond 187.
GOLD DIVISION (Age 60-69)
John Sloe, Aurora 141
Gary Congin, Chesterland 142
Jim Herchek, Chagrin Falls 143
Dave Peck, Macedonia 144
Steve Bedell, Brecksville 146
Jeff Dean, Copley 147
Jeff Luken, Middleburgh Hts. 147
Randy Crider, Brunswick 148
Jim Cea, Tallmadge 149
Lou Boarman, Mogadore 149
Frank Livak, Brimfield 150
Randy Steele, Hudson 151
Jack Pico, Niles 151
Ray McNiece, Cleveland 151
Robert Gintert, Newton Falls 154
James Cox, Parma 156
Michael Harman, Mentor 158
Kevin Been, Fairlawn 161
Ron Benco, Strongsville 161
Ron Rositani, Willowick 163
PLATINUM DIVISION (170 and older)
Ken Krupa, North Royalton 145
Gerald Musiel, Chagrin Falls 149
Don Schaefer, Austinburg 151
Dave Pifer, Garrettsville 152
Joe Weidner, Thompson 156
Duff Long, Mantua 156
Ed Taber, Aurora 158
Don Labaj, Berea 159
Jerry Bobbs, Ravenna 164
Eli Maravich, Mogadore 173
Jim Crowe, Berlin Center 178
Tony Martino, Mantua 180
