The first of 13 major events conducted by the Northern Ohio Section of the Professional Golfers Association (NOPGA) will take place next week with the playing of the 39th Ohio Senior Open on Wednesday, May 29th and Thursday, May 30th on the Fazio Course at Firestone Country Club.
The 36-hole stroke-play event, sponsored by Michelob Ultra, ForeverLawn, and Invited, will be conducted in two divisions. The Senior Division is for players age 50-and-over as of May 29, 2024. Players age 60-and-over qualify for the Senior Plus Division.
It is open to professional and qualifying amateurs.
DUBLIN PROFESSIONAL BOB SOWARDS WILL ATTEMPT TO WIN UNPRECEDENTED SIXTH STRAIGHT OHIO SENIOR OPEN TITLE
When it comes to the Ohio Senior Open nobody does it better than Dublin’s Bob Sowards.
At least no one has done it better over the last five years.
Sowards, the Director of Instruction at Kinsale Golf and Fitness Club in Powell, Ohio, will attempt to win an unprecedented sixth consecutive title when the 39th Ohio Senior Open is played on the Fazio Course of Firestone Country Club on May 29-30.
Conducted by the Northern Ohio Section of the Professional Golfers Association, the Ohio Senior Open is a 36-hole event that attracts contestants from across the state. It is sponsored by ForeverLawn, Michelob Ultra, and Invited. The field is limited to 144.
Competition is held in two divisions. The Senior Division is for players over the age of 50 as of May 29, 2024. The Senior Plus Division is for players 60-and-over.
Sowards, who turns 56 on June 9, became the all-time leading winner of the event in 2023 when he won for the fifth consecutive time, climbing past four-time champion Gary Robison (2018, 2015, 2010, 2004). After missing the tournament in 2023, Robison, the former teaching professional, head professional and Director of Golf at Firestone Country Club (1980-2006) and Canton Brookside Country Club (2007-2021), has returned to compete in 2024.
Sowards is one of the most decorated players in the field, having played in 12 PGA Championships and finishing in a tie for fifth in the 2021 Senior PGA Championship. He is a two-time winner of the prestigious Senior PGA Professional Championship (2023 and 2018). A former Nationwide Tour player, Sowards was the 2021 Senior PGA Professional Player of the Year.
SOWARDS WINNING THE LAST 5 OHIO SENIOR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
2023 67-68=135 (-5)
2022 67-68=135 (-5)
2021 65-68=133 (-7)
2020 68-68=136 (-4)
2019 69-63=132 (-8)
AVERAGE SCORE: 134 (-6)
OHIO SENIOR OPEN MULTIPLE WINNERS CIRCLE
Bob Sowards (5): 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019
Gary Robison (4): 2004, 2010, 2015, 2018
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
Larry King (2): 2012, 2003
39TH OHIO SENIOR OPEN FAST FACTS
WHAT: 39th Ohio Senior Open
WHEN: May 29-30, 2024
WHERE: Fazio Course, Firestone Country Club.
WHO: The event is conducted by the Northern Ohio Section of the Professional Golfers Association, It is conducted in two divisions: The Senior Division, for players 50-and-over as of May 29, 2024; Senior Plus is for players 60-and-over.
REIGNING CHAMPIONS: Dublin’s Bob Sowards has won the last five Senior Division titles, unprecedented in tournament history. Sowards, one of the most decorated professionals in Ohio, is the Director of Instruction at Kinsale Golf and Fitness Club in Powell. Athens amateur Cal Wood won the Seniors Plus title.
THE FIELD: Limited to 144 players. (Note: 140 entered in 2023) Handicap Index Limit: Less than 8.0; Players must have resided or worked in Ohio. Approximately 85 cities, from Avon to Zanesville, are usually represented.
SPONSORS: ForeverLawn, Michelob Ultra, and Invited
ABOUT THE FAZIO COURSE: Par 35-35—70; 6,500 yards (6,095 for Seniors Plus). Formerly known as the West Course, the Fazio is a links-style course built in 1989 and redesigned by legendary architect Tom Fazio is 2021.
FREE ADMISSION: The event is open to the public with no admission charge.
ALL-TIME OHIO SENIOR OPEN SITES, CHAMPS, SCORES & RUNNERS-UP
YEAR | SITE | CHAMPION/SCORE | RUNNERUP
2023 Fazio Course Bob Sowards 67-68-135 (-5) Mike Thomas 69-68-137 (-3)
2022 Fazio Course Bob Sowards 67-68-135 (-5) Sam Arnold 70-65-135 (-5)
2021 Fazio Course Bob Sowards 65-68-133 (-7) Jeff Mallette; Rob Moss; Michael Kelley 140
2020 Fazio Course 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; Alan Fadel 140
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; Bob Koch 142 (+2)
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) Ho. 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)
Boldface = Tournament records for 18 and 36 holes.
* The 2014 event was limited to 18 holes due to inclement weather.
ALL-TIME OHIO OPEN SENIOR PLUS SCORES, RUNNERS-UP & VENUES
YEAR | SITE | CHAMPION/SCORE | RUNNERUP
2023 Fazio Course Cal Wood (a)69-67-134 (-4) Richard Marlowe (a) 68-71-139 (-1)
2022 Fazio Course Ed Steiber (a) 68-70-138 (-2) Terry Tyson (a) 73-70-143
2021 Fazio Course Scott Spence 71-71 (+2)* Edward Steiber (a) 72-70-142
Steven Shaw 67-75-142
2020 Fazio Course Mike Cassell (a) 67-68-135 (-5) Monty Guest (a) 68-71-139
2019 Firestone West Walt Robertson 74-68 (+2)* Jim Durr (a) 75-67-142
2018 Firestone West Don Padgett II 71-68-139 (-1) Jeff Sparks (a), Jim Durr (a), Terry Shell 143
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) Phillip Russo (a) 72-70-142); Jim Logue 70-72
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)
* Spence won on the 3d hole of a 3-man playoff ** 2014 event limited to 18 holes, bad weather
