DEFENDING CHAMPION BOB SOWARDS SHOOTS 65; LEADS BY THREE SHOTS IN 36TH OHIO SENIOR OPEN
Two-time defending champion Bob Sowards had two birdies and an eagle over his final six holes on Wednesday to shoot a 5-under par 65 and take the first-round lead of the 36th Michelob Ultra Ohio Senior Open at Firestone Country Club.
Sowards, fresh off a tie for fifth in last week’s Senior PGA Championship at Southern Hills in Tulsa, Okla., toured the back nine of the Fazio Course in four-under par 31, and will take a three-shot lead into Thursday’s final round.
Sowards, from Dublin and the Director of Instruction at Kinsale Golf and Fitness Club, had the only bogey-free round in the Senior Division (ages 50-59) and was three shots better than Painesville professional Gary Rusnak (34-34-68).
Steven Shaw, from Seven Hills, leads the Senior Plus Division (ages 60+) after an opening 3-under par 67.
Seven players are tied for third place at 1-under par 69, including three local amateurs: Firestone member Howard Clendenin, Clevelander Tony Hejna who plays out of Kirtland CC, and Shayne Bishop of New Franklin. Clendenin was the runner-up to Sowards in last year’s tournament.
If Sowards wins he will join former Canton Brookside professional Jim Logue as the only man to win three consecutive Senior Open titles and will get to within one of tying Gary Robison, also a former Brookside pro, as the all-time leader with four titles. Logue won in 1993-94-95 and while Robison owns four titles he never won consecutively.
Sowards, who turns 53 in six days won last year with matching 68s.
After making the turn in 1-under 34, Sowards made a two-putt birdie from about 70 feet on the par-5 13 hole and added another birdie on the par-3 16th with a 3-foot putt.
The highlight of his round came on the 506-yard 17th hole when he hit driver and 7-iron to 18 feet and made the putt.
The tournament resumes Thursday at 7:45 a.m., with the leaders going off just before 2 p.m.
ROUND 1 RESULTS: Northern Ohio PGA
2021 Michelob Ultra Ohio Senior Open Championship
Firestone Country Club Fazio Course, Akron, Ohio
Wednesday, June 2, 2021
Senior Division
1 Bob Sowards Dublin, OH 34-31–65 -5
2 Gary Rusnak Painesville, OH 34-34–68 -2
T3 Gregory Bishop (a) New Franklin, OH 35-34–69 -1
T3 Chris Black Lancaster, OH 34-35–69 -1
T3 Howard Clendenin (a) Fairlawn, OH 33-36–69 -1
T3 Tony Hejna (a) Cleveland, OH 38-31–69 -1
T3 Michael Kelley (a) Westerville, OH 35-34–69 -1
T3 Bob Stephens Springboro, OH 34-35–69 -1
T3 Harold Wallace McDermott, OH 36-33–69 -1
T10 Dave Antill (a) Dublin, OH 36-34–70 E
T10 Robert Gerwin (a) Cincinnati, OH 38-32–70 E
T10 Saumil Jhaveri (a) Westlake, OH 35-35–70 E
T10 Mike Kaido Zanesville, OH 37-33–70 E
T10 Steve Parker Akron, OH 34-36–70 E
T10 Gary Robison Canton, OH 35-35–70 E
T16 Alan Fadel (a) Perrysburg, OH 37-35–72 +2
T16 Jim Karr Columbia Station, OH 38-34–72 +2
T16 Jeff Mallette (a) North Canton, OH 38-34–72 +2
T16 Dennis Miller Youngstown, OH 37-35–72 +2
T16 Rob Moss Broadview Heights, OH 35-37–72 +2
T16 Kurt Peterson (a) Massillon, OH 37-35–72 +2
T16 Scott Pollack Chagrin Falls, OH 38-34–72 +2
T16 Robert Spino (a) New Franklin, OH 36-36–72 +2
T16 Steve Stone Perrysburg, OH 37-35–72 +2
T16 Dan Sutton Toledo, OH 36-36–72 +2
T16 Mike Thomas Loveland, OH 40-32–72 +2
T16 Darrin Vaughan Bolivar, OH 36-36–72 +2
T28 Dan Belden (a) Massillon, OH 37-36–73 +3
T28 Mitchell Camp Aurora, OH 37-36–73 +3
T28 Paul Hollenbaugh New Albany, OH 37-36–73 +3
T28 Craig Stephens (a) Dublin, OH 35-38–73 +3
T28 Robert Wakeling (a) Hudson, OH 37-36–73 +3
T28 Dennis Wells Cincinnati, OH 36-37–73 +3
T34 Tom Atchison Silver Lake, OH 38-36–74 +4
T34 Ted Mandes Gates Mills, OH 37-37–74 +4
T34 Stephen Mayes (a) Westerville, OH 39-35–74 +4
T34 Tom Waitrovich Westlake, Ohio 37-37–74 +4
T38 Lloyd Faulkner Cincinnati, OH 35-40–75 +5
T38 Allen Freeman (a) Brecksville, OH 39-36–75 +5
T38 Roger Tolley (a) Willard, OH 36-39–75 +5
T38 Gary Trivisonno Aurora, OH 37-38–75 +5
T42 Tom Bach Springboro, OH 37-39–76 +6
T42 David Bahr Cincinnati, OH 37-39–76 +6
T42 Brian Huntley (a) Uniontown, OH 39-37–76 +6
T42 Jon Jones Warren, OH 39-37–76 +6
T42 Larry King Cincinnati, OH 40-36–76 +6
T42 Ken Kinkopf (a) Dublin, OH 40-36–76 +6
T42 Timothy Krapfel Dayton, OH 37-39–76 +6
T42 Michael Ross (a) Hinckley, OH 39-37–76 +6
T50 Jamie Ankrom (a) Belpre, OH 37-40–77 +7
T50 Sean Arthur Liberty Twp., OH 38-39–77 +7
T50 Dennis Berkheimer (a) Strongsville, OH 38-39–77 +7
T50 John Connelly Perrysburg, OH 42-35–77 +7
T50 Craig Goldsberry Lewis Center, OH 37-40–77 +7
T50 Mike Haynes (a) Gallipolis, OH 39-38–77 +7
T50 Nick Lambos (a) Canton, OH 39-38–77 +7
T50 Tom Moore North Canton, OH 39-38–77 +7
T50 Paul Rooney Kings Mills, OH 38-39–77 +7
T50 Kevin Sullivan Painesville, OH 38-39–77 +7
T60 Brian Beebe (a) Uniontown, OH 40-38–78 +8
T60 Mark Borlin (a) Stow, OH 40-38–78 +8
T60 Jeff Kovalchik (a) Columbus, OH 41-37–78 +8
T60 Jeff Semple (a) Canton, OH 40-38–78 +8
T64 Robert Berkheimer (a) Strongsville, OH 40-39–79 +9
T64 Russell Papa Solon, OH 40-39–79 +9
T64 Jeff Pawlowski (a) Highland Heights, OH 40-39–79 +9
T64 Daniel Terry Wadsworth, OH 38-41–79 +9
T64 Robert Wadsworth (a) North Canton, OH 39-40–79 +9
T69 Tony Adcock Canton, OH 39-41–80 +10
T69 Ryan Bowen (a) Cedarville, OH 41-39–80 +10
T69 Roy Fankhauser (a) Avon, OH 37-43–80 +10
T69 Doug Ison (a) Jackson, OH 41-39–80 +10
T69 Derek Kesig (a) Delaware, OH 42-38–80 +10
T69 Mike Rankin Marion, OH 40-40–80 +10
T69 Rick Towle Columbus, OH 38-42–80 +10
T69 Daniel Vosel (a) Cincinnati, OH 42-38–80 +10
T77 Jay Davis (a) St Clairsville, OH 43-38–81 +11
T77 Eric Morgan Sandusky, OH 39-42–81 +11
T77 Randy Neufarth West Chester, OH 42-39–81 +11
T77 Judd Stephenson Avon Lake, OH 39-42–81 +11
T77 Michael Thomas (a) Wintersville, OH 39-42–81 +11
T77 Jeff Thrams (a) North Canton, OH 40-41–81 +11
T77 John Toth (a) Akron, OH 39-42–81 +11
T84 Richard DelVecchio Warren, OH 42-40–82 +12
T84 Jack Pawelkoski Dayton, OH 39-43–82 +12
T84 Mark Warden (a) Vincent, OH 40-42–82 +12
T84 Bill Wentz Galena, OH 42-40–82 +12
T88 John Bianco (a) Independence, OH 42-41–83 +13
T88 Jim Groh (a) Hinckley, OH 40-43–83 +13
T88 Mark Telerico (a) Aurora, OH 41-42–83 +13
T91 Rodney Bordman (a) Norwalk, OH 41-43–84 +14
T91 Larry Stefanov Uniontown, OH 40-44–84 +14
T91 Brian Vincelette (a) Wadsworth, OH 42-42–84 +14
94 Paul Malkus Jr. (a) Streetsboro, OH 43-42–85 +15
T95 Andy Santor Youngstown, Ohio 45-42–87 +17
T95 Tony Stritenberger Urbana, OH 44-43–87 +17
97 Chris Helaney (a) Lakewood, OH 45-43–88 +18
98 Jeffrey Osciak (a) Hudson, OH 45-45–90 +20
99 Chris Ramaglia (a) Strongsville, OH 46-49–95 +25
DID NOT FINISH
WD Joe Regner New Albany, OH
WD Tony Milam Concord Twp, OH
WD Mark Wise (a) Westlake, OH
JWD Ray Finnearty Delaware, OH
Senior Plus Division
1 Steven Shaw Seven Hills, OH 32-35–67 -3
2 Scott Spence Sunbury, OH 35-36–71 +1
T3 Cory George Lancaster, OH 37-35–72 +2
T3 Dan Malloy (a) Avon, OH 36-36–72 +2
T3 Edward Steiber (a) Cincinnati, OH 38-34–72 +2
T6 Rick Bryson (a) Akron, OH 33-40–73 +3
T6 Terry Shell Wintersville, OH 35-38–73 +3
T8 Raymond Bush Massilon, OH 37-37–74 +4
T8 Pat Delaney Springfield, OH 36-38–74 +4
T8 William Downing (a) Akron, OH 38-36–74 +4
T8 Theo Grubb Milford, OH 39-35–74 +4
T8 Philip Russo (a) Cincinnati, OH 37-37–74 +4
T13 Tom Baugh (a) Akron, OH 36-39–75 +5
T13 Mike Cassell (a) Hudson, OH 37-38–75 +5
T13 William Germana Auburn Twp. Ohio 38-37–75 +5
T13 Randy Reifers (a) Milford, OH 36-39–75 +5
T13 Walt Robertson Cleveland, OH 38-37–75 +5
T18 Mark Boothby (a) Cincinnati, OH 38-38–76 +6
T18 David Clarke (a) Saint Clairsville, OH 38-38–76 +6
T18 Randy Crider (a) Brunswick, OH 40-36–76 +6
T21 Larry Lahnan (a) Aurora, OH 37-41–78 +8
T21 Terry Tyson (a) Perrysburg, OH 39-39–78 +8
T23 Raul Mendoza (a) North Lawrence, OH 38-41–79 +9
T23 Ron Skirpstas (a) Medina, OH 38-41–79 +9
T25 G.M. Bingman (a) Medina, OH 39-41–80 +10
T25 Raymond Najda (a) Olmsted Township, OH 40-40–80 +10
T25 Ron Rositani (a) Willowick, OH 39-41–80 +10
T25 John Wilkinson Beavercreek, OH 43-37–80 +10
29 Keith Pluto (a) Parma, OH 40-41–81 +11
30 Jeff Thompson (a) Cincinnati, OH 43-39–82 +12
T31 Steve Bedell (a) Brecksville, OH 41-42–83 +13
T31 Frank Guise (a) Westlake, OH 42-41–83 +13
T31 Mark Thomas (a) Jackson Twp, OH 44-39–83 +13
34 Bill Martinko (a) Brunswick, OH 44-40–84 +14
35 Jeff Myers Poland, Ohio 43-44–87 +17
36 Leo Szczepanski (a) Seven Hills, OH 43-45–88 +18
37 Paul Tessler Warren, OH 40-50–90 +20
DID NOT FINISH
WD Jeffrey Knox (a) Brecksville, OH
NC Ronald Miller (a) Willoughby, OH
