Three new champions were crowned on Sunday during the 45th edition of the Record-Courier Senior Amateur Championship.
During the final 18 holes, rain greeted the golfers at the beginning of the round, something golfers have not seen very much of since June. But it didn’t discourage the golfers seeking the championship in the three age divisions contested.
When all strokes were counted, Rob Schustrich of Windham, Steve Bedell of Brecksville and Jerry Bobbs of Ravenna became the champions of the Senior, Gold and Platinum Divisions.
A HAT TRICK FOR SCHUSTRICH
Rob Schustrich won the Portage County Amateur in 1998, 2001 and 2004. Already holding that title three times, Schustrich won the Senior Division, ages 50-to-59, in his first year in the event.
Scoring an even-par 70 at Windmill Lakes Golf Club, Schustrich bested the field by four strokes.
“It was that ham-and-eggs day you hear about,” said Schustrich who said he scrambled all day to score that final 70.
Schustrich has been almost perfect in recent weeks, as the Portage County Senior Amateur is his third victory. Schustrich won the 2015 Chippewa Championship and the Senior Summit County Amateur Championship all in the last month.
There was a three-way tie for second place between Ed Marsinek of Shalersville, Frank Livak of Brimfield and Robert Gintert of Newton Falls.
Marsinek finished second after the scorecard playoff followed by Livak.
Two-time champion Dave Cutlip of Suffield finished in a tie for fifth place with Saturday’s leader, George Allen of Warren, who faltered on Sunday to fire a 78.
A big move up the leaderboard was accomplished by Mike Robbins who had fired an 81 on Saturday at Oak Knolls only to come back with a 73 at Windmill Lakes.
GOLD DIVISION
The seniors, ages 60 to 69 saw Steve Bedell of Brecksville leap to the top of the leaderboard with the only under-par round of the tournament, finishing with a sterling one-under-par 69 at Windmill Lakes.
That 18-hole round gave Bedell a two-stroke lead over John Sloe of Aurora, the 2013 champion.
Sloe put together two solid rounds of 73-74 for a 147 final score.
It is a golfing family for the Sloe’s who saw their son Chris, former Portage County Junior Amateur Champion, leave to play collegiate golf at John Carroll University this fall.
Bedell has played in many tournaments this summer but this was best finish.
Joe Hedrick of Akron won the tiebreaker against Tom Stack, also of Akron, for third place.
Former Amateur Champion Butch Morrette of Twin Lakes tied for sixth place.
PLATINUM DIVISION
Jerry Bobbs was thrilled to grab the championship again in the Platinum Division, after taking home the trophy in 2013.
Bobbs topped Ron Rhome of Ravenna by three strokes and Dan Bania, also of Ravenna by seven strokes as the top three in the 70-and-older age division.
One note, Bob Mishler who started his tournament with a 91, scored an 82 for his final 18 holes to hole-out with a score less than his age in the oldest division of golfers.
THE SENIOR
The Record-Courier Portage County Senior Amateur experienced record numbers this season in its first stand-alone tournament. Seniors will compete in the 46th Senior Amateur in 2016 on the final weekend in August as the tournament will continue to be the spotlight to close the amateur season for Portage County golfers.
FINAL RESULTS: 45TH RECORD-COURER PORTAGE COUNTY SENIOR AMATEUR GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, Aug. 29, 2015 Oak Knolls Golf Club, Kent
Sunday, Aug. 30, 2015 Windmill Lakes Golf Course, Ravenna
SENIOR DIVISION
Robert Schustrich, Windham 75-70 145
Ed Marsinek, Shalersville 76-73 149
Frank Livak, Brimfield 75-74 149
Robert Gintert, Newton Falls 76-73 149
Dave Cutlip, Suffield 77-75 152
George Allen, Warren 74-78 152
Mike Robbins, Chagrin Falls 81-73 154
Ray Prokop, Cleveland 80-74 154
Randy Crider, Brunswick 79-77 156
Geoffrey Burge, Aurora 81-76 157
Dave Peck, Macedonia 77-81 158
Mark Thomas, Jackson 84-75 159
Steve DeBolt, Newton Falls 81-78 159
Troy Luckenbaugh, Uniontown 86-75 161
Mike Lacivita, Ravenna 84-80 164
Ron Rositani, Willowick 82-85 167
Terry Besaw, Ravenna 82-85 167
James Franks, Ravenna 84-84 168
Ray Durban, Cleveland 85-84 169
Ray Rousseau, Kent 86-83 169
Randy Wilburn, Deerfield 84-86 170
Haroon Ismail, Youngstown 88-95 173
Doug Hull, Akron 89-84 173
Jim Mullenix, Rootstown 91-92 183
GOLD DIVISION
Steve Bedell, Brecksville 76-69 145
John Sloe, Aurora 73-74 147
Joe Hedrick, Akron 73-75 148
Tom Stack, Akron 72-76 148
Jim Hercheck, Chagrin Falls 74-74 148
Joe Holcomb, Atwater 76-78 154
Butch Morrette, Twin Lakes 76-78 154
Tom Reed, Silver Lake 76-79 155
Gerald Musiel, Chagrin Falls 79-77 156
Tom Shuster, Southington 79-77 156
Matt Habbyshaw, Aurora 81-76 157
Jeff Luken, Middleburg Hts. 78-80 158
Jim Cofojohn, Mantua 72-86 158
David Pifer, Mantua 82-78 160
Chuck Hall, Atwater 79-81 160
Ted Reminder, Streetsboro 80-82 162
Bob Goulish, Tallmadge 81-81 162
Neil Callen, Kent 79-84 163
Don Labaj, Berea 80-84 164
Bill Fillner, Ravenna 81-83 164
Donald Miller, Kent 80-85 165
Bob Wright, Rootstown 102-105 207
PLATINUM DIVISION
Jerry Bobbs, Ravenna 76-74 150
Ron Rhome, Ravenna 78-75 153
Dan Bania, Ravenna 79-78 157
Bob Harwell, Akron 80-77 157
Robert Hall, Ravenna 84-77 161
Eli Maravich, Mogadore 88-84 172
Terry Bonar, Aurora 87-86 173
Bob Mishler, Garrettsville 91-82 173
