BALCAR RALLIES TO WIN 102ND OHIO OPEN, SETS 54-HOLE TOURNAMENT SCORING RECORD AT 14-UNDER PAR 296
Michael Balcar admits that he has been struggling with the mental side of golf and feels it has prevented him from winning a big tournament this season.
Who hasn’t battled the mental issues at one time or another? Other than Jack and Tiger, of course.
Balcar, a PGA Assistant Golf Professional at Brandywine Country Club in Maumee, threw an exorcism on all his golfing mental demons on Wednesday to win the 102nd Pyramid Treating Ohio Open at pristine Westfield Country Club.
The Cleveland State graduate, buoyed by texts of encouragement from CSU coach Steve Weir, rallied from a 3-shot deficit with a final round 5-under 65 to win the tournament by one shot over Kent State graduate student Cade Breitenstine with a final 54-hole score of 14-under 196.
Breitenstine, who led the tournament for 53 holes, closed with a 1-under 69 to go with his two opening rounds of 6-under 64.
Wittenberg University assistant coach Nick Carlson (66-65-68) finished third and Akron Hoban senior and Ohio State commit Jack Vojtko was fourth at 67-66-71=204.
Balcar’s rounds of 66-65-65 set a scoring record for Ohio Opens held over Westfield’s two courses since the event returned seven years ago.
The previous record was 198, set by 2013 winner Colin Biles of Columbus.
But back to Balcar and those demons.
“I have had trouble staying in the present,” said Balcar, who earned $10,000 for his victory. “I have been working on fighting against excitement or disappointment, no matter the situation. It has been a real issue for me.”
That is until Wednesday’s final nine holes, which he played in 3-under 31 to win by one shot in true Ohio Open style. The last five Opens have been decided by one stroke or ended in a playoff. Balcar made it six.
“I’ve been trying not to worry about good or bad,” said Balcar, who played at Toledo St. John’s Jesuit before enrolling at CSU. “I just try to be the best I can be. I want to be proud of myself on every shot so when I look back and say did I try my best? Did I do the best I could on each shot? Yes. Then it will take care of itself.”
It’s hard to imagine a 54-hole tournament being decided by two holes but that’s what happened.
Balcar, Breitenstine and Carlson had staged a three-man race through the first 13 holes on the South Course. Breitenstine, who began that day with a three-shot lead on his two playing partners, picked up his first birdie of the day on the 11th hole and stood at 14-under as he stood on the tee of the 399-yard 14th.
Balcar, who had four birdies and one bogey through 10 holes, was at 12-under and Carlson, a University of Michigan graduate, had three birdies and one bogey through 12.
Breitenstine, who was third in the 2021 Open, rolled in a 22-foot putt for birdie to get to 14-under par and a possible two-shot lead over Balcar and three over Carlson.
However, Balcar answered Breitenstine’s birdie by making a 15-footer to stay within one.
The biggest swing took place three holes later on the 221-yard 17th. Breitenstine pulled his tee shot left, just short of a greenside bunker and leaving himself a touchy downhill, left-to-right pitch. Balcar hit a 5-iron “as hard as I could” off the tee and the ball stopped 10 feet from the hole. He made the birdie putt to go to 14-under. Breitenstine’s difficult chip rolled five feet past the hole and he made a rare miss on his par attempt. The two-shot swing gave Balcar his first lead of the tournament.
“I think my answer to Cade’s birdie on 14 was just as big as the birdie on 17,” Balcar said. “He made a great birdie there and I was fortunate enough for mine to go in too.”
(The 17th also brought some joy into Rob Moss’s tournament as the Pepper Pike professional and three-time Open champion made a hole-in-one.)
The drama was not over. Balcar’s drive on 18 found the right rough behind two trees. Breitenstine hit a fine drive to the middle of the fairway and chipped to about eight feet. Balcar’s second stopped 50 feet away but he two-putted from there, making about a 6-footer to close the show when Breitenstine missed his birdie attempt.
Balcar said the win accomplished a long-time goal.
“It’s been a goal of mine since high school,” he said. “Jack Nicklaus and so many other names have won this prestigious event. There are so many good players from around Ohio. I think if you win this tournament you can play anywhere.”
That is, as long as you stay in the present and Balcar couldn’t be any more present than he was on Wednesday.
FINAL RESULTS: Northern Ohio PGA
102nd Pyramid Treating Ohio Open
presented By Dex Imaging
Westfield Country Club, Westfield, Ohio
Mon-Wed, June 26-28, 2023
Hole-by-Hole BlueGolf Scoring >
FULL FIELD
1 Michael Balcar Toledo, OH 66-65-65–196 -14
2 Cade Breitenstine (a) Akron, OH 64-64-69–197 -13
3 Nick Carlson Springfield, OH 66-65-68–199 -11
4 Jack Vojtko (a) Stow, OH 67-66-71–204 -6
T5 Bryce Haney (a) Huber Heights, OH 69-71-65–205 -5
T5 Joe Wilson IV (a) West Chester, OH 72-67-66–205 -5
T5 Kevin Hall Cincinnati, OH 69-65-71–205 -5
8 Jacob McBride Hartville, OH 72-69-65–206 -4
T9 TT Crouch Fredericktown, OH 72-69-66–207 -3
T9 Troy Taylor II (a) Westerville, OH 69-70-68–207 -3
T9 Ethan Tracy Columbus, OH 70-68-69–207 -3
T9 Nathan Tarter Mogadore, OH 67-71-69–207 -3
T9 Ryan Yip Kent, OH 67-71-69–207 -3
T14 Logan Lagodich Canton, OH 67-74-67–208 -2
T14 Jake Fox Cincinnati, OH 72-69-67–208 -2
T14 Ryan Troyer Dover, OH 70-70-68–208 -2
T14 Tyler Light Massillon, OH 73-66-69–208 -2
T18 Joe Moore Englewood, OH 71-71-67–209 -1
T18 Jordan Gilkison (a) Washington Township, OH 70-71-68–209 -1
T18 Connor Curry Mount Vernon, OH 70-68-71–209 -1
T18 Josh Gilkison Washington Township, OH 71-67-71–209 -1
T18 Zander Gibson (a) Concord, OH 69-69-71–209 -1
T23 Stephen Gangluff Bellfontaine, OH 68-74-68–210 E
T23 Jim Troy Strongsville, OH 71-70-69–210 E
T23 Paul Wackerly Minerva, OH 69-71-70–210 E
T23 Ian Hardesty (a) Kent, OH 69-68-73–210 E
T27 Griffin Mitchell (a) New Albany, OH 71-72-68–211 +1
T27 Palmer Yenrick (a) Oregon, OH 73-70-68–211 +1
T27 Mark Sierak Twinsburg, OH 70-72-69–211 +1
T27 Ken Keller Youngstown, OH 74-67-70–211 +1
T27 Tom Walters Cincinnati, OH 72-69-70–211 +1
T27 Brandon Conner (a) Cincinnati, OH 71-70-70–211 +1
T27 Brett Montgomery Harpster, OH 72-68-71–211 +1
T27 Dylan Fitchet (a) Conneaut, OH 72-69-70–211 +1
T27 Thomas Bell (a) Bowling Green, OH 74-66-71–211 +1
T27 Ben Hogan (a) Wellington, OH 67-73-71–211 +1
T27 Gunnar McCollins (a) Massillon, OH 71-68-72–211 +1
T27 Chase Wilson Newark, OH 66-68-77–211 +1
T39 Blake Sattler Dover, OH 70-73-69–212 +2
T39 Topher Reed (a) Fairview Park 72-71-69–212 +2
T39 Colin Biles Columbus, OH 70-73-69–212 +2
T39 Brody Simms (a) Dayton, OH 68-74-70–212 +2
T39 Brock Kehres Shelby, OH 71-71-70–212 +2
T39 Carter Mishler (a) Millersburg, OH 72-69-71–212 +2
T39 Sean McGuire Twinsburg, OH 71-70-71–212 +2
T39 Bryce Reed (a) Sunbury, OH 72-69-71–212 +2
T39 Carson Bellish (a) Pickerington, OH 70-71-71–212 +2
T39 Jack Herceg (a) Dublin, OH 72-66-74–212 +2
T49 Austin Graham Pepper Pike, OH 71-72-70–213 +3
T49 DJ Holub Twinsburg, OH 71-71-71–213 +3
T49 Sam Arnold Cincinnati, OH 69-72-72–213 +3
T52 Luke Metzger (a) Mason, OH 70-73-71–214 +4
T52 Rob Moss Broadview Heights, OH 71-72-71–214 +4
T52 Mike Auterson Milford, OH 70-72-72–214 +4
T52 Nick Piesen (a) Strongsville, OH 70-71-73–214 +4
T52 Michael Kinkopf Dublin, OH 68-73-73–214 +4
T52 Alan Keshock Bedford, OH 70-70-74–214 +4
T52 Caleb Westfall (a) Mechanicsburg, OH 68-72-74–214 +4
T59 Yadhu Urs (a) Gahanna, OH 74-69-72–215 +5
T59 Zach Burton (a) Dublin, OH 75-68-72–215 +5
T59 Solomon Petrie (a) Akron, OH 70-72-73–215 +5
T59 Connor Gdovin (a) Highland Heights, OH 72-67-76–215 +5
T63 Evan DiSanto (a) Cincinnati, OH 76-67-73–216 +6
T63 Ben Smith Westfield Center, OH 71-70-75–216 +6
T63 Nolan Haynes (a) Barberton, OH 69-72-75–216 +6
T66 Taylor Suggs Cincinnati, OH 74-69-74–217 +7
T66 Jason Nussbaum Canton 70-72-75–217 +7
T66 Brandon Jatich (a) North Canton, OH 71-70-76–217 +7
T69 Kyle Buzaki (a) Stow, OH 73-70-75–218 +8
T69 Matt Daulton (a) Lebanon, OH 69-70-79–218 +8
T71 Julian Pina OH 73-70-76–219 +9
T71 Alex Andrews (a) Kirtland, OH 72-71-76–219 +9
73 Ross Teeter (a) Johnstown, OH 72-70-80–222 +12
Professionals
1 Michael Balcar Toledo, OH 66-65-65–196 -14 $10,000.00
2 Nick Carlson Springfield, OH 66-65-68–199 -11 $6,500.00
3 Kevin Hall Cincinnati, OH 69-65-71–205 -5 $4,500.00
4 Jacob McBride Hartville, OH 72-69-65–206 -4 $3,250.00
T5 TT Crouch Fredericktown, OH 72-69-66–207 -3 $2,175.00
T5 Ethan Tracy Columbus, OH 70-68-69–207 -3 $2,175.00
T5 Nathan Tarter Mogadore, OH 67-71-69–207 -3 $2,175.00
T5 Ryan Yip Kent, OH 67-71-69–207 -3 $2,175.00
T9 Logan Lagodich Canton, OH 67-74-67–208 -2 $1,112.50
T9 Jake Fox Cincinnati, OH 72-69-67–208 -2 $1,112.50
T9 Ryan Troyer Dover, OH 70-70-68–208 -2 $1,112.50
T9 Tyler Light Massillon, OH 73-66-69–208 -2 $1,112.50
T13 Joe Moore Englewood, OH 71-71-67–209 -1 $800.00
T13 Connor Curry Mount Vernon, OH 70-68-71–209 -1 $800.00
T13 Josh Gilkison Washington Township, OH 71-67-71–209 -1 $800.00
T16 Stephen Gangluff Bellfontaine, OH 68-74-68–210 E $700.00
T16 Jim Troy Strongsville, OH 71-70-69–210 E $700.00
T16 Paul Wackerly Minerva, OH 69-71-70–210 E $700.00
T19 Mark Sierak Twinsburg, OH 70-72-69–211 +1 $600.00
T19 Ken Keller Youngstown, OH 74-67-70–211 +1 $600.00
T19 Tom Walters Cincinnati, OH 72-69-70–211 +1 $600.00
T19 Brett Montgomery Harpster, OH 72-68-71–211 +1 $600.00
T19 Chase Wilson Newark, OH 66-68-77–211 +1 $600.00
T24 Blake Sattler Dover, OH 70-73-69–212 +2 $487.50
T24 Colin Biles Columbus, OH 70-73-69–212 +2 $487.50
T24 Brock Kehres Shelby, OH 71-71-70–212 +2 $487.50
T24 Sean McGuire Twinsburg, OH 71-70-71–212 +2 $487.50
T28 Austin Graham Pepper Pike, OH 71-72-70–213 +3 $408.33
T28 DJ Holub Twinsburg, OH 71-71-71–213 +3 $408.33
T28 Sam Arnold Cincinnati, OH 69-72-72–213 +3 $408.33
T31 Rob Moss Broadview Heights, OH 71-72-71–214 +4 $387.50
T31 Mike Auterson Milford, OH 70-72-72–214 +4 $387.50
T31 Michael Kinkopf Dublin, OH 68-73-73–214 +4 $387.50
T31 Alan Keshock Bedford, OH 70-70-74–214 +4 $387.50
35 Ben Smith Westfield Center, OH 71-70-75–216 +6 $350.00
T36 Taylor Suggs Cincinnati, OH 74-69-74–217 +7 $350.00
T36 Jason Nussbaum Canton 70-72-75–217 +7 $350.00
38 Julian Pina OH 73-70-76–219 +9 $350.00
Amateurs
1 Cade Breitenstine (a) Akron, OH 64-64-69–197 -13 $900.00
2 Jack Vojtko (a) Stow, OH 67-66-71–204 -6 $850.00
T3 Bryce Haney (a) Huber Heights, OH 69-71-65–205 -5 $775.00
T3 Joe Wilson IV (a) West Chester, OH 72-67-66–205 -5 $775.00
5 Troy Taylor II (a) Westerville, OH 69-70-68–207 -3 $700.00
T6 Jordan Gilkison (a) Washington Township, OH 70-71-68–209 -1 $625.00
T6 Zander Gibson (a) Concord, OH 69-69-71–209 -1 $625.00
8 Ian Hardesty (a) Kent, OH 69-68-73–210 E $550.00
T9 Griffin Mitchell (a) New Albany, OH 71-72-68–211 +1 $371.43
T9 Palmer Yenrick (a) Oregon, OH 73-70-68–211 +1 $371.43
T9 Brandon Conner (a) Cincinnati, OH 71-70-70–211 +1 $371.43
T9 Dylan Fitchet (a) Conneaut, OH 72-69-70–211 +1 $371.43
T9 Thomas Bell (a) Bowling Green, OH 74-66-71–211 +1 $371.43
T9 Ben Hogan (a) Wellington, OH 67-73-71–211 +1 $371.43
T9 Gunnar McCollins (a) Massillon, OH 71-68-72–211 +1 $371.43
T16 Topher Reed (a) Fairview Park 72-71-69–212 +2 $225.00
T16 Brody Simms (a) Dayton, OH 68-74-70–212 +2 $225.00
T16 Carter Mishler (a) Millersburg, OH 72-69-71–212 +2 $225.00
T16 Bryce Reed (a) Sunbury, OH 72-69-71–212 +2 $225.00
T16 Carson Bellish (a) Pickerington, OH 70-71-71–212 +2 $225.00
T16 Jack Herceg (a) Dublin, OH 72-66-74–212 +2 $225.00
T22 Luke Metzger (a) Mason, OH 70-73-71–214 +4 $200.00
T22 Nick Piesen (a) Strongsville, OH 70-71-73–214 +4 $200.00
T22 Caleb Westfall (a) Mechanicsburg, OH 68-72-74–214 +4 $200.00
T25 Yadhu Urs (a) Gahanna, OH 74-69-72–215 +5 $181.25
T25 Zach Burton (a) Dublin, OH 75-68-72–215 +5 $181.25
T25 Solomon Petrie (a) Akron, OH 70-72-73–215 +5 $181.25
T25 Connor Gdovin (a) Highland Heights, OH 72-67-76–215 +5 $181.25
T29 Evan DiSanto (a) Cincinnati, OH 76-67-73–216 +6 $175.00
T29 Nolan Haynes (a) Barberton, OH 69-72-75–216 +6 $175.00
31 Brandon Jatich (a) North Canton, OH 71-70-76–217 +7 $150.00
T32 Kyle Buzaki (a) Stow, OH 73-70-75–218 +8 $150.00
T32 Matt Daulton (a) Lebanon, OH 69-70-79–218 +8 $150.00
34 Alex Andrews (a) Kirtland, OH 72-71-76–219 +9 $150.00
35 Ross Teeter (a) Johnstown, OH 72-70-80–222 +12 $150.00
