The Portage County Amateur Championship has a rich tradition of honoring its roots in Portage County Ohio and welcoming golfers from throughout the state as two divisions compete from the same tees.
The roster of golfers teed off from the tournament tees at Windmill Lakes Golf Club in Ravenna, the title sponsor of the event, on Saturday.
The weather was perfect as golfers looked to conquer the 6,936 fairways of Windmill that were in perfect condition for the annual event.
One golfer stood above the rest when all scores were recorded.
OPEN DIVISION
Darren Phipps of Stow fired an outstanding score of 65, five-under-par at Windmill Lakes.
Phipps score is only five strokes off the course record shot by Ian Holt of Stow when he was playing for the Kent State varsity men’s golf team.
Looks like Stow has bragging rights.
Phipps made only one bogey, on the fifth hole, against six birdies.
His 32 on the front nine and 33 on the back nine was the low score for the Amateur, too. A record-setting first 18-holes at Windmill Lakes by the former Malone University golfer.
Joining Phipps in the championship pairing at Sugar Bush today is Mike Furey of Twinsburg who fired a 74 and Jon Wanders of Hudson, carding 75.
Furey just finished his senior year at John Carroll University as a member of the varsity men’s team.
COUNTY DIVISION
Not to be outdone, the County Division was putting up scores to remember on the first day also.
Evan Ferrara of Kent, a member of the Wooster College varsitiy men’s team and former stand-out for the Kent Roosevelt Rough Riders, leads the division with a 75.
Former Garfield G-Men high school golfer and now a member of Youngstown State Universiy’s Penguins, Derek Miller, took the runner-up spot after the first day, scoring a 76.
Rounding out the top three golfers in the championship pairing was Brady Adelman of Mogadore who just passed his tests to become a nurse but still loves to golf following a solid career at Field High School in Portage County.
Adelman is tied with Ed Marsinek of Ravenna, each scoring 78’s but Adelman is in the championship pairing thanks to a scorecard tie breaker.
WOMEN
Missy Gedeon of Hudson, former Hiram College women’s coach, was the lone woman in the field and fired a respectable 83 for the day at Windmill. “I wanted to represent the women,” said Gedeon who plays in several events throughout the season.
SUNDAY
Golfers tee off pn Sunday at Sugar Bush with the County Division taking to the fairways beginning at 8:32. Trophies ad gift certificates are awarded following each division.
ROUND 1 RESULTS:
89TH PORTAGE COUNTY AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Windmill Lakes Golf Club, Ravenna
Saturday, July 27, 2019
WOMEN
Missy Gedeon, Hudson 83
COUNTY DIVISION
Evan Ferrara, Ravenna 75
Derek Miller, Garrettsville 76
Brady Adelman, Mogadore 78
Ed Marsinek, Ravenna 78
Chad Brazill, Streetsboro 80
Dove Fall, Windham 80
Chris Sloe, Aurora 80
Mike Avalon, Aurora 81
Chris Plute, Streetsboro 81
Brett Beatty, Kent 82
Ben Jenior, Rootstown 83
Randy Wilburn, Deerfield 86
Bill Avalon, Aurora 91
Evan Chapple, Rootstown 91
Alex Avalon, Aurora 93
Mike Williams, Mogadore 94
Ryan Hostetler, Mogadore 95
Thomas Dailey, Ravenna 101
Jaret Gogolsky, Rootstown 103
OPEN
Darren Phipps, Stow 65
Mike Furey, Twinsburg 74
Jon Wanders, Hudson 75
Connor Gdovin, Highland Heights 75
Brian Smith, Oberlin 76
Dean Austalosh, Campbell 76
Alex Mosteller, North Canton 77
Michael Klaric, Peninsula 79
Tom Jalbert, Akron 79
Alex Loftin, Macedonia 80
Zach Baker, Cleveland 85
Zach Drukenbrod, Canton 81
Will Ellison, Akron 81
Mark Brower, Stow 82
Jared Budner, Macedonia 84
Andrew Zgrabik, Brecksville 85
Eric Rush, Sagamore Hills 91
Mike Brenner, Macedonia 93
RD 2 STARTING TIMES
89th RECORD-COURIER PORTAGE COUNTY AMATEUR
Sugar Bush Golf Club, Garrettsville
Sunday, July 28, 2019
WOMEN
8:32 Missy Gedeon, Hudson
COUNTY DIVISION
8:32 Thomas Dailey, Ravenna; Jaret Gogolsky, Rootstown;
8:42 Mike Wiliams, Mogadore; Ryan Hostetler, Mogadore;
8:22 Bill Avalon, Aurora; Evan Chapple, Rootstown; Alex Avalon, Aurora
9:02 Brett Beatty, Kent; Ben Jenior, Rootstown; Randy Wilburn, Deerfield
9:12 Chris Sloe, Aurora; Mike Avalon, Aurora; Chris Plute, Streetsboro
9:22 Ed Marsinek, Ravenna; Chad Brazill, Streetsboro; Dove Fall, Windham.
9:32 Evan Ferrara, Ravenna; Derek Miller, Garrettsville; Brady Adelman, Mogadore
OPEN DIVISION
9:42
9:52 Andrew Zgrabik, Brecksville; Eric Rush, Sagamore Hills; Mike Brenner, Macedonia.
10:02 Will Ellison, Akron; Mark Brower, Stow; Jared Budner, Macedonia.
10:12 Alex Loftin, Macedonia; Zach Baker, Cleveland; Zach Druckenbrod, Canton.
10:22 Alex Mosteller, North Canton; Michael Klaric, Peninsula, Tom Jalbert Akron.
10:32 Connor Gdovin, Highland Heights; Brian Smith, Oberlin; Dean Austalosh, Campbell.
10:42 Darren Phipps, Stow; Mike Furey, Twinsburg; Jon Wanders, Hudson.
