Michael Balcar has been here before and obviously liked it.
Zach Ford had never been here before but it’s a sure bet he’ll learn to like it.
On an uncharacteristic cold and drizzly September Tuesday at stoic Mayfield Country Club, Balcar and Ford each played their way to an appearance in a national tournament in the Northern Ohio PGA Assistant Professional Championship.
Balcar, the Assistant Golf Professional at Brandywine Country Club, shot back-to-back rounds of 2-under par 69 for a 36-hole total of 4-under 138 to become the first repeat winner of the event since Jim Troy ruled in 2018-2019.
Ford, an Assistant Golf Professional at Tippecanoe Country Club, made the most of his first NOPGA Section appearance by finishing second, one shot behind the winner with rounds of 70-69=139.
As the top two finishers, Balcar, who played at Cleveland State, and Ford, who played at Youngstown State, qualify for the 46th National Car Rental Assistant PGA Professional Championship to be held at the PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla., Nov. 17-20.
Shortly after the final scores were posted, Balcar and Ford sat on the back patio waiting for the NOPGA’s obligatory photo shoot and interviews.
“Hey, Zach, can I get your cell number in case you might want to split a B&B in Florida?” said Balcar, in his third year at BCC.
“For sure,” responded Ford, a recent hire at TCC.
They are professionals but not far removed their college days when sharing a hotel room was the norm.
Numbers were swapped. Congratulations were shared. Smiles were prevalent. Suddenly, the bleak weather brightened.
Pepper Pike Club Assistant Golf Professionals DJ Holub (71-69) and Sean McGuire (67-74) finished third and fourth, respectively, and joined Troy (72-73) as the three alternates.
“This is very special, for sure,” said Balcar, who had 11 birdies over the 36 holes and played Mayfield’s four par-5s in an aggregate 7-under. “There are a lot of good players in the Northern Ohio Section, I mean a lot of good players. And, it was a long day with the rain. They say that the 36-hole U.S. Open sectional qualifier is the longest day in golf. Well, this was a mini-version.”
Ford, a native of Meadville, Pa., recently earned a master’s degree in digital marketing from YSU and was a member of the Penguins’ runner up team in the Horizon League.
“This is unbelievable, to be honest,” said Ford, who was in the first group of the day and finished playing three hours before the last group. “I would never have expected this. I just came in here to have fun and see what happens. I haven’t played competitive golf since April.”
Balcar, who won this event last year at Weymouth Country Club, began the second 18 holes two shots behind first-round leader McGuire, whose opening 67 included six birdies. He played the front nine of his second round in even-par but a bogey on the par-4 ninth served as a spark.
“That bogey lit a fire,” said Balcar, who proceeded to rip off consecutive birdies the 10th and the par-5 11th. “Got a little bit more focused.”
“Hit two good shots on 10 and 11,” said Balcar who birdied the 10th by making a 7-footer.
One of those shots came on the 542-yard 11th and it had nothing to do with power, but with finesse.
He hit a solid drive but a 4-iron second shot found the right-front bunker and was pressed against the lip. Potential disaster turned into realism as he blasted out to five feet and made the putt for birdie.
“It was a decent bunker shot but a good putt,” he said.
Balcar stood on the 16th tee at 4-under but unsure of where he stood. He soothed that dilemma by pouring in a 25-foot putt for birdie. A bogey on the par-3 17th might have caused some angst but he answered with a birdie on the 502-yard closing hole, thanks in part to a display of sportsmanship from playing partner McGuire.
Balcar hit his drive just off the right fairway and had a hard time finding the ball.
“We came real close to time (for a search),” Balcar said. “Then Sean found it. That was a great show of sportsmanship. I have to give him credit. I can’t thank him enough.”
Given a reprieve of sorts, Balcar hit a 4-iron to just in front of the green, chipped to within five feet and made the putt for birdie. And, as it turned out, the win.
“I am definitely pleased on how it went,” he said. “Towards the end of the round I got more and more confident. I felt I needed a birdie or better on 18 to close out the round. There are too many good players. I had to keep my foot on the gas pedal.”
As it turns out that foot on the gas pedal will take him all the way to Florida.
FINAL RESULTS: Northern Ohio PGA
2022 NOPGA National Car Rental Assistant Professional Championship
The Mayfield Club, South Euclid
Tuesday, September 6, 2022
QUALIFIED
1 Michael Balcar Brandywine Country Club 69 – 69 = 138 $1,300.00
2 Zack Ford Tippecanoe Country Club 70 – 69 = 139 $950.00
ALTERNATES – IN ORDER (3)
3 DJ Holub Pepper Pike Club 71 – 69 = 140 $850.00
4 Sean McGuire Pepper Pike Club 67 – 74 = 141 $750.00
5 Jim Troy Windmill Golf Center 72 – 73 = 145 $650.00
DID NOT QUALIFY
6 Darin de Lelys Westfield Group Country Club 75 – 71 = 146 $550.00
7 Kelcey Eberle Congress Lake Club 76 – 71 = 147 $450.00
T8 Tyler Peterson Portage Country Club 77 – 71 = 148 $300.00
T8 Ian Haidle Shady Hollow Country Club 71 – 77 = 148 $300.00
10 Emily Heikkila Trumbull Country Club 71 – 79 = 150 $200.00
11 Julian Pina Findlay Country Club 80 – 71 = 151 $150.00
12 Jordan Paolini Shaker Heights Country Club 76 – 77 = 153
13 Derek Smith Red Tail Golf Club 74 – 80 = 154
T14 Seth Carn Alliance Country Club 78 – 79 = 157
T14 Sam Wilding The Mayfield Sand Ridge Club – Mayfield 86 – 71 = 157
T14 Zac Cork Pepper Pike Club 77 – 80 = 157
T17 Augustin Lanshe Westfield Group Country Club 81 – 78 = 159
T17 Michael Miller Avon Oaks Country Club 79 – 80 = 159
19 Dylan Champney Avon Oaks Country Club 83 – 77 = 160
20 Ryan Cook Westfield Group Country Club 83 – 85 = 168
21 Thomas Reckart Beechmont Country Club 87 – 83 = 170
22 Cooper Wrobel Westfield Group Country Club 87 – 84 = 171
23 Brian Suydam Beechmont Country Club 92 – 89 = 181
JWD Andy Silverman Canterbury Golf Club
