The first round of the annual 36-hole Zoar Memorial was played on Saturday under less that desirable conditions at Zoar Golf Club. But the cold and misty weather wasn’t much of a hinderance to Chris Okeson from Lyndhurst. His first tour around Zoar suited his eye, as he posted a stellar 5-under par 67. Okeson was the only player to play both nines under par. He turned in 34 strokes and played the back in 33.
Also new to the area and the Memorial, Matt Stuart finished the day just two strokes off the pace with a 69. Local high school phenom, Conner Ritter from East Sparta had a fine 70 after starting birdie-eagle.
There were two other competitors under par for the first round as Dover resident Matt Gasser and Blake Hartford from Spring, Texas each posted 71.
The Senior Division found local favorite Matt Bitikofer (Strasburg) and Randy Crider (Brunswick) tied at 1-under par. Rob Schustrich (Windham) is at 72, while Brian Beebe (Uniontown) and Jeff Stormer (Mogadore) finished the day one over par.
The final round of the Zoar Memorial will be played Sunday afternoon.
SUNDAY STARTING TIMES: 2021 Zoar Memorial
11:30 Watkins, Nogez, Enama
11:39 Foschia, DeLillo, Pond
11:48 Terry, Harbert, Loomis
12:00 Schneider, Iodoine, Sheak
12:09 Zgrabik, Lowder, Waligura
12:18 Lamp, Garwood, Peterson
12:27 Murray, Grayson, Goldsmith
12:36 Burge, Gardner, Abrahamson
12:45 J.Dean, Sibila, Mendoza
12:54 S. Ginert, Cicarello, Edwards
1:10 Jenkins, Cutlip, Wadsworth
1:19 B.Dean, Sparks, Heavner
1:28 Clarke, Thomas, Lockwood
1:37 Trier, Allen, Baker
1:46 Beebe, Stormer, F.Ginert
1:55 Bitikofer, Crider, Schustrich
2:05 Trzebuckowski, Crewse, Adkinson
2:14 B.Gasser, Filo, Tucker
2:23 Vanivelt, Simpson, Prok
2:34 Strope, Wild, Kaufman
2:43 M.Gasser, Hartford, Hepner
2:53 Okeson, Stuart, Ritter