The first-round leaders in each division of the 93rd Portage County Amateur stayed at the top of the leaderboard through 36 holes of golf, two rounds at two completely different courses.
Contested at Windmill Lakes in Ravenna and Raccoon Hill in Kent, golfers in the Amateur commented about the test the courses provided to their game but there was more at play than simply sweeping the field and conquering tough golf course fairways and greens.
COUNTY DIVISION
Evan Ferrara of Kent won the County Division for the second time, the first victory coming in 2020, but this win was different.
Firing rounds of 72-72, Ferrara started the day at Raccoon Hill with back-to-back double bogeys, erasing his lead before he settled down and added five birdies over the next 16 holes including ending his round with back-to-back birdies on holes 16 and 17.
With Ferrara’s dad on the bag, other thoughts were on the family’s mind. Evan’s grandfather, Dr. Emilio Ferrara, passed away two weeks ago and he was in his family’s thoughts as well as many of the other golfers.
Evan’s grandfather rarely missed, and thoroughly enjoyed, watching his grandson compete at Windmill Lakes and the other golf courses in Portage County. Everyone knew him and missed his presence on the course this season.
That was even more important to Evan Ferrara, the grandson that loved his grandfather watching. Everyone on the golf course was thrilled that Ferrara won with a decisive victory that was 11 strokes better than second and third place.
Lucas Harrington, former Aurora standout, returned to play in the Amateur this season and played solid, 79-76.
He tied former Streetsboro varsity golfer, Jeremy Knight following Knight’s 80 at Raccoon to add to the 75 he shot at Windmill.
A scorecard playoff determined Harrington’s runner-up spot.
Just missing out on a spot on the podium was Randy Wilburn of Deerfield, firing a 76 on his second day to leap into fourth place. He’s ready for a run at the Senior Amateur at the end of August at the same two host courses.
Oddest round of the day was fired by every-year amateur competitor Chad Brazill. Usually a consistent golfer, Brazill said, “listen to this score” as he sat down at the scoring table. When totaled the Streetsboro resident fired a front nine of 54 and a back nine of 38, a 16-stroke improvement.
OPEN DIVISION
The final round started out with three Youngstown State University varsity men competing in the final threesome.
Jake Sylak of Mineral Ridge, a senior this season for the Penguins, fired the only back-to-back, under-par rounds of the tournament.
Sylak fired a 69 on the Par 70 fairways of Windmill and then added a 70 on the Par 71 Raccoon Hill.
“The two golf courses were a good test,” said Sylak. They are a ball-striker’s paradise. You can’t just pull out your driver on every hole, someone I always want to do so that’s tough for me. It was a great tournament,” concluded Sylak.
Andrew Bolinger, of Sheffield Village, made a move into second place thanks to the low round of the tournament, a 67 at Raccoon Hill. That four-under-par round moved him ahead of Cole Christman, also a Penguin. Christman shot a 74 on his final day to add to his 71 for a 145 third-place total.
Bolinger, a former Tiffin varsity golfer and Ashland coach, bested Christman of Canfield by one stroke.
WOMEN’S DIVISION
Allyson Siewert of Sagamore Hills, a member of the women’s team at Wooster College, held on the lead over Morgan Bauza of Kent.
Siewert fired an 84 on her second day to decisively lead the field.
But the women, all collegiate golfers, were supportive of each other throughout both 18-hole rounds, enjoying the day with each other and the solid competition.
Sydney Leavery of Kent finished third and Samantha Miller of Streetsboro was fourth.
NEXT UP
After a busy week, the Portage County Amateurs host the final tournament of the season, the 53rd Portage County Senior Amateur will return to the Amateur courses of Windmill Lakes and Raccoon Hill on Aug. 26 and 27. Registration forms are available at pcagolf.net and on the Facebook page “The Portage County Amateurs sponsored by Portage Sports. Registration is also available at hosts golf courses.
FINAL RESULTS:
93rd Portage County Amateur Championship
Windmill Lakes Golf Club, Ravenna – Sat, July 29
Racoon Hill Golf Course, Kent – Sun, July 30
WOMEN’S DIVISION
Allyson Siewert, Sagamore Hills 77-84 161
Morgan Bauza, Kent 83-93 176
Sydney Leavery, Kent 83-93 177
Samantha Miller, Streetsboro 92-101 193
COUNTY DIVISION
Evan Ferrara, Kent 72-72 144
Lucas Harrington, Aurora 79-76 155
Jeremy Knight, Streetsboro 75-80 155
Randy Wilburn, Deerfield 80-76-156
Laszlo May, Rootstown 80-78-158
Dove Fall, Windham 77-81 158
Russell Shaffer, Rootstown 80-79 159
Ben Lansinger, Mogadore 80-82 162
Toren Roubic, Windham 81-84 165
Garrison Rose, Garrettsville 79-86-165
Ben Jenior, Rootstown 82-84 166
Spencer Crone, Ravenna 85-81 166
Chad Brazill, Streetsboro 89-82 171
Ed Marsinek, Shalersville 86-87 173
Austin Biggin, Ravenna 87-88 175
Vince Fortney, Garrettsville 85-91-176
Brendan Osborne, Mantua 90-87 177
Benjamin Wright, Ravenna 86-96-182
Aaron Snyder, Garrettsville 96-92 188
Eric Ernsberger, Diamond 97-92 189
OPEN DIVISION
Jake Sylak, Mineral Ridge 69-70 139
Andrew Bolinger, Sheffield Village 77-67 144
Cole Christman, Canfield 71-74 145
Hunter Lowder, Brewster 74-77 151
Bryce Hood, Louisville 78-75 153
Braden Nunez, Norwalk 77-76 153
Dylan Dunn, Stow 76-77 153
Devon Goldberg, Twinsburg 76-78 154
Michael Porter, McDonald 73-81 154
Mike Furey, Twinsburg 82-75 157
Brett Brown, Macedonia 76-82 158
Reece Zeigler, Bucyrus 81-79 160
Lance Strang, Massillon 86-85 171
Justin McGrath, Wadsworth 90-84 174
Alexander Mulacek, Burton 91-84 175
Jeff Day, Willoughby Hills 91-87 178
Pierce Dukes, Hudson 95-87 182
