WHAT: The 37th Ohio Senior Open conducted by the Northern Ohio PGA
WHEN: June 1-2, 2022
WHERE: Fazio Course, Firestone Country Club, Akron
WHO: Professionals and amateurs in age divisions: 50-and-over (SENIORS) & 60-and-over (SENIORS PLUS).
FORMAT: 36 holes, stroke play
TITLE SPONSORS: Michelob Ultra; House of LaRose
SUPPORTING SPONSORS: Invited (Formerly Club Corp); Firestone Country Club.
ABOUT THE FAZIO COURSE: Par 35-35—70; 6,500 yards (6,095 for Seniors Plus).
The Ohio Senior Open, regarded as the state’s most prestigious event for professionals and amateurs over the age of 50, will be played for the 37th time on June 1-2.
Conducted by the Northern Ohio Section of the Professional Golfers Association of America (NOPGA), the 36-hole, stroke-play event will be played once again on the Fazio Course (formerly the West Course) at Firestone Country Club.
Dublin, Ohio’s Bob Sowards, PGA Director of Instruction at Kinsale Golf and Fitness Club in Powell, Ohio, has an opportunity to equal one record and set another.
He can become just the second four-time winner of the event – joining NOPGA Hall-of-Famer Gary Robison, PGA — but the first to win four consecutive titles.
Robison, who retired as the director of golf at Canton Brookside Country Club after the 2020 season, is the only man to win four Senior Open titles, prevailing in 2004, 2010, 2015 and 2018.
Sowards, who will turn 54 on June 9, has won the last three Senior Opens and is one of the most decorated active professionals in Ohio. He is one of seven professionals to win both the Senior Open (2021, 2020, 2019) and the Ohio Open (2002, 2004, 2010).
No one has been able to win both titles in the same season.
Sowards also shares the distinction of posting the lowest 18-hole round in event history. He shot a 7-under 63 in the final round in winning in 2019. He shares the accomplishment with Gary Trivisonno, PGA who set the record during the opening round of the 2011 tournament, which propelled him to a 9-shot victory.
Consequently, Sowards is looking forward to returning to Firestone.
“I love that course and have had very good results every time I’ve played it,” said Sowards, a five-time Southern Ohio PGA champion who has played in 11 PGA Championships. “Success breeds confidence and confidence breeds success. So, I am very confident going in. I am very proud of having won the event three times because the competition is very good. A quality field plays every year.”
2021 REVISITED
Southern Ohio PGA members and PGA Tour-tested Bob Sowards and Scott Spence prevailed in the 36th playing of the Senior Open in 2021. Sowards, who has played in 11 PGA Championships, led wire-to-wire with rounds of 65-68—133 (-7) in winning his third straight Senior Open title. Spence, who has played in seven majors (3 US Opens, 4 PGA’s) rallied from a 4-shot deficit to shoot 71-71—142 (+2) then won on the third hole of a 3-man playoff with amateur Edward Steiber and first-round leader Dr. Steven Shaw in the Senior Plus Division. Sowards, PGA Director of Instruction at Kinsale Golf and Country Club in Powell, Oh., and Spence, PGA Director of Instruction at The Lakes Golf and Country Club in Westerville, have entered the 2022 competition.
BOB SOWARDS IN WINNING THE LAST 3 OHIO SENIOR OPENS
2021 65-68 — 133 (-7)
2020 68-68 — 136 (-4)
2019 69-63 — 132 (-8)
THEY’RE BACK
Ten former champions have entered the 37th playing of the Senior Open. Six are entered in the Senior Division and four are entered in the Senior Plus Division.
ENTERED IN THE SENIOR DIVISION: Mitch Camp (Club Walden, 2009); Larry King (Cincinnati, 2012); amateur Nick Lambos (Canton, 2016); Bob Sowards (Dublin, 2019, 2020, 2021); Gary Trivisonno (PGA Lifetime Member, 2008, 2011); Tom Waitrovich (PGA Lifetime Member, 2013).
ENTERED IN SENIOR-PLUS DIVISION: Amateur Mike Cassell (Hudson, 2020); amateur Frank Guise (Westlake, 2014); Walt Robertson (Cleveland, 2013, 2019); Scott Spence (Sunbury, 2021).
LOW ROUNDS IN THE OHIO SENIOR OPEN
63: ** Bob Sowards (Dublin) 2d round, 2019
63: ** Gary Trivisonno (Aurora) 1st round, 2011
64: ** Gary Robison (Canton) 1st round, 2010
64: ** Mitch Camp (Aurora) 2d round, 2009
64: ** Tom Herzan (Findlay) 1st round, 2007
65: **Tony Milam (Concord) 1st round, 2014
65: **Tom Waitrovich (Westlake), 2d round, 2013
65: **Gary Trivisonno (Aurora), 2d round, 2011
65: Mitch Camp (Aurora), 1st round, 2011
65: ** Bob Sowards (Dublin), 1st round, 2021
** Denotes player went on to win the tournament.
LOW ROUNDS IN THE OHIO SENIOR OPEN – Senior Plus Division
64: **Lynn Martin (a) (Findlay), 2d round, 2012
66: **Walt Roberston (Cleveland), 2d round, 2013
67: **Rob Herron (Wash. Court House), 2d round, 2016
67: Jim Durr (a) (Silver Lake), 2d round, 2019
67: Bryan Abbott (Stuart, Fla.), 2d round, 2012
67: Steven Shaw (Seven Hills), 1st round, 2021
68: **Jim Logue (Canton), 2d round, 2015
68: **Jim Logue (Canton), 1st & 2d rounds, 2011
** Denotes player went on to win the tournament.
OHIO SENIOR OPEN MULTIPLE WINNERS CIRCLE
Gary Robison (4): 2004, 2010, 2015, 2018
Bob Sowards (3): 2021, 2020, 2019
Jim Logue (3): 1993, 1994, 1995
Bryan Abbott (3): 1997, 1998, 2000
Gary Trivisonno (2): 2008, 2011
Tom Herzan (2): 2007, 2006
Dick Plummer (2): 1989, 1992
ALL-TIME OHIO SENIOR OPEN CHAMPIONS, SCORES & VENUES
YEAR | SITE | CHAMPION/SCORE | RUNNERUP
2021 Fazio Course | Bob Sowards 65-68-133 (-7) | Jeff Mallette, Rob Moss, Michael Kelley (E)
2020 Firestone West | Bob Sowards 68-68-136 (-4) | Howard Clendenin (a) 68-72-140 (E)
2019 Firestone West | Bob Sowards 69-63-132 (-8) | Tony Milam 68-66-134 (-6)
2018 Firestone West | Gary Robison 69-70-139 (-1)* | Steve Parker 68-71-139 (-1)
2017 Firestone West | Tim Conley 69-69-138 (-2) | Jim Karr 70-70 €; Alan Fadel (a) 71-69
2016 Firestone West | Nick Lambos (a) 68-68-136 (-4) | Gary Trivisonno 70-68-138 (-2)
2015 Firestone West | Gary Robison 70-69-139 (-1) | Mark Weitendorf 68-74-142 (+2)
2014 Firestone West | Tony Milam 65 (-5) | John McMahon 68 (-2)
2013 Firestone West | Tom Waitrovich 67-65-132 (-8) | Tom Atchison 68-66/Bob Koch 67-67 (-6)
2012 Firestone West | Larry King 66-69-135 (-5) | Gary Trivisonno 70-66-136 (-4)
2011 Firestone West | Gary Trivisonno 63-65-128 (-12) | Bob Koch 70-67-137 (-3)
2010 Firestone West | Gary Robison 64-69-133 (-7) | Tom Herzan 68-68-136 (-4)
2009 Firestone West | Mitch Camp 71-64-135 (-5)* | Rod Spittle 70-65-135 (-5)
2008 Firestone West | Gary Trivisonno 69-68-137 (-3) | Gary Robison 68-70-138 (-2)
2007 Firestone West | Tom Herzan 64-67-131 (-9) | Gary Trivisonno 68-68-136 (-4)
2006 Firestone West | Tom Herzan 68-67-135 (-5) | Gary Robison 70-68-138 (-2)
2005 Firestone West | Steve Groves 70-70-140 (E) | Gary Robison 143 (+3)
2004 Firestone West | Gary Robison 69-67-136 (-4) | Davey Snyder 69-72-141 (+1)
2003 Firestone West | Larry King 70-68-138 (-2) | Steve Hay 74-66-140 (E)
2002 Ohio Prestwick | Jerry McGee 67-69-136 (-8) | Joe Flogge 73-67-140 (-2)
2001 Ohio Prestwick | Gary Wilkins 69-70-139 (-5) | Jim Logue 139 (-5)
2000 Firestone West | Bryan Abbott 71-73-144 (E) | Rocky Nelson/Tom Fussaro 145 (+1)
1999 Firestone West | Bob Hauer 70-72-142 (-2) | Jim McFarren 71-74-145 (+1)
1998 Firestone West | Bryan Abbott 71-72-143 (-1) | Frank Guise 70-74-145 (+1)
1997 Firestone West | Bryan Abbott 75-70-145 (+1) | Frank Wharton 74-73-147 (+3)
1996 Firestone West | Denny Spencer 73-73-146 (+2) | Bob Hauer 147 (+3)
1995 Ashland CC | Jim Logue 76-72-148 (+4) | Jeff Steinberg 77-72-149 (+5)
1994 Ashland CC | Jim Logue 71-71-142 (-2) | Ed Dalton 148 (+4)
1993 Ashland CC | Jim Logue 69-71-140 (-4) | Martin Roesink 143 (-1)
1992 Ashland CC | Dick Plummer 68-73-141 (-3) | John Rainieri 72-73-145 (+1)
1991 Plum Brook | Martin Roesink 70-66-136 (-6) | Arn Schuessler (a); George Bellino 141 (-1)
1990 Plum Brook | Jack Miller (a) 70-71-141 (-1) | Martin Roesink (68-75)-143, El Collins
1989 Plum Brook | Dick Plummer 71-70-141 (-1) | Frank Wharton/Jack Mller (142)
1988 Plum Brook | El Collins 72-70-142 (E) | Howard Peterson (a); John Rainieri 144 (2)
1987 Plum Brook | George Bellino 72-67-139 (-3 ) | Frank Wharton 70-72-142 (E)
1986 Plum Brook | Chuck Smith (a) 73-71-144 (+2)* | El Collins 75-69-144(+2)
*The 2014 event was limited to 18 holes due to inclement weather.
ALL-TIME SENIOR PLUS (60+) OPEN CHAMPIONS
YEAR | SITE | CHAMPION/SCORE | RUNNERUP
2021 Fazio Course | Scott Spence 71-71 (+2)* | Edward Steiber (a) 72-70 (+2)/Steven Shaw 67-75 142 (+2)
2020 Firestone West | Mike Cassell (a) 67-68-135 (-5) | Monty Guest (a) 68-71-139 (-1)
2019 Firestone West | Walt Robertson 74-68 (+2)* | Jim Durr (a) 75-67-142 (+2)
2018 Firestone West | Don Padgett II 71-68-139 (-1) | Jeff Sparks,Jim Durr, Terry Shell (+3)
2017 Firestone West | Jim Logue 73-73-146 (+6) | Walt Robertson 75-73-148 (+8)
2016 Firestone West | Rob Herron 70-67-137 (-3) | Jim Logue 70-70-140 (E)
2015 Firestone West | Jim Logue 74-68-142 (+2) | Steven Shaw 73-71-144 (+4)
2014 Firestone West | Frank Guise (a) 70 (E)/Philip Russo (a) 70 (E) – No Playoff
2013 Firestone West | Walt Robertson 74-66-140 (E) | Philip Russo (a) 72-70-142 (+2), Jim Logue 70-72 (+2)
2012 Firestone West | Lynn Martin (a) 75-64-139 (-1) | Bryan Abbott 73-67-140 (E)
2011 Firestone West | Jim Logue 68-68-136 (-4) | Bryan Abbott 70-68-138 (-2)
* Firestone West was renamed the Fazio Course in 2021 after famed architect Tom Fazio.
