Uniontown’s Maxwell Moldovan continued his incredible summer of golf victories, earning medalist honors at the USGA’s 2019 U.S. Amateur Cleveland Qualifier at Shaker Heights Country Club today.
Moldovan shot a 3-under par 67 in the morning 18 then followed it up with a 1-under par 69 in the afternoon session.
Truly, Moldovan is on a 2019 USGA Cleveland Qualifier tear.
First, he made it through the USGA’s U.S. Open Cleveland Local Qualifier back on May 7th at Beechmont, making birdie at the last to get into a playoff to earn a spot in Sectionals.
Then Moldovan won the USGA’s U.S. Junior Amateur Cleveland Qualifier on June 24th at Lakewood Country Club, again making birdie at the last to earn the medal.
On his final hole of the day today for U.S. Amateur Cleveland Qualifier — the downhill par-3 ninth at Shaker — Max went flag-hunting trying to make another birdie at the last. Not because he thought he needed to get to 6-under par to win, but because he was feeling good and had made “birdie at the last” all summer long.
His spot-on tee shot hit the center of the green right online with the flag, then shockingly bounced about 10 feet high and went over the green.
So instead of a birdie at the last, he gave one back at the end — but he still won the qualifier by three shots.
In addition to going three-for-three in USGA qualifying events this summer, Moldovan has also won the Ohio Amateur, two AJGA events, and a couple of small local tourneys. That’s after winning his second-consecutive OHSAA Division I state championship last fall.
So it’s safe to say that Max is “on a run”.
The only other player to finish under par at Shaker was Ryan Gerard of Raleigh, NC (above). Gerard matched the SHCC competitive course record with a score of 66 in the afternoon round to finish at 1-under par 139.
(Barberton’s Chase Johnson and New Albany’s Avery Schneider both shot 66 in last year’s U.S. Am Qualifier.)
Gerard was on his way to a big am tournament in Michigan that starts next week, so he decided to play in the Cleveland qualifier for the U.S. Am. Good choice.
A pair of players finished at 1-over par 141 and had to go to a playoff to determine the order for the alternates. Lyndhurst’s Chris Okeson (above) knocked home a birdie on the second playoff hole to take the first alternate spot, as Ian Bangor of Moon Township PA (below) earned the second alternate spot.
The qualifying players advance to the 119th U.S. Amateur Championship at the Pinehurst Resort & Country Club #2 and #4 Courses in North Carolina, played August 12 – 18th.
PHOTO GALLERY: 2019 U.S. Amateur Cleveland Qualifier >
FINAL RESULTS:
2019 U.S. Amateur Cleveland Qualifying Tournament
Shaker Heights Country Club, Shaker Heights OH | Par 70
Wednesday, July 24, 2019
QUALIFIERS:
Maxwell Moldovan, Uniontown, OH 67 – 69 = 136
Ryan Gerard, Raleigh, NC 73 – 66 = 139
ALTERNATES:
Chris Okeson, Lyndhurst, OH 69 – 72 = 141
Ian Bangor, Moon Township, PA 69 – 72 = 141
DID NOT QUALIFY:
Kreps, Cade Youngstown, OH 70 – 72 = 142
Mandry, Zach Solon, OH 73 – 69 = 142
Shin, Roni Rocky River, OH 73 – 70 = 143
Blakely, Jules Westlake, OH 69 – 74 = 143
Keller, Ken Youngstown, OH 71 – 73 = 144
Mallette, Jeff North Canton, OH 74 – 71 = 145
Murray, Lucas Canton, OH 71 – 74 = 145
Snyder, Ethan Dublin, OH 71 – 75 = 146
Cook, Carter Cornelius, NC 73 – 73 = 146
McGuire, Sean Twinsburg, OH 70 – 76 = 146
Breitenstine, Cade Akron, OH 73 – 74 = 147
Spangler, Clay Presto, PA 75 – 72 = 147
Clay, Josh North Canton, OH 74 – 73 = 147
Frase, Noah Lancaster, OH 74 – 74 = 148
Betts, William Leechburg, PA 78 – 70 = 148
Stevenson, Baker Hartland, MI 72 – 76 = 148
Gdovin, Connor Highland Heights, OH 71 – 78 = 149
Hogan, Ben Elyria, OH 79 – 70 = 149
Veydt, Steven Cecil, PA 76 – 73 = 149
Prok, Joshua Akron, OH 74 – 75 = 149
Randol, Zack Columbus, OH 78 – 71 = 149
Hartford, Blake Conroe, TX 74 – 76 = 150
Supelak, Zak Copley, OH 75 – 75 = 150
Liston, Matt Louisville, KY 75 – 75 = 150
Malik, PJ South Russell, OH 77 – 73 = 150
Coyne, Thomas University Heights, OH 76 – 76 = 152
Majewski, Mark Erie, PA 74 – 78 = 152
McCollins, Gunnar Massillon, OH 76 – 76 = 152
Knapp, Jonathon Uniontown, OH 74 – 78 = 152
Buzaki, Kyle Stow, OH 72 – 81 = 153
Irvine, Bryn Bay Village, OH 74 – 79 = 153
Mallette, Ryan North Canton, OH 79 – 74 = 153
Bodis, Brandon Avon Lake, OH 79 – 74 = 153
Fiore, Nicholas Novelty, OH 79 – 74 = 153
Lewis, Tristan Pepper Pike, OH 75 – 78 = 153
Klatt, Logan Columbus, OH 77 – 77 = 154
Berlin, Daniel Chagrin Falls, OH 76 – 78 = 154
Bigham, Chase Naples, FL 77 – 77 = 154
Terlesky, Brian Youngstown, OH 79 – 75 = 154
Fitchet, Dylan Conneaut, OH 77 – 78 = 155
Rohrer, Austin Canton, OH 76 – 79 = 155
Firmstone, Noah Moon, PA 75 – 80 = 155
Tornabene, Joe Canton, OH 78 – 78 = 156
Wolfe, Jimmy Columbus, OH 79 – 78 = 157
Padgett III, Don Akron, OH 79 – 78 = 157
Bowers, Tim McMurray, PA 81 – 77 = 158
Watson, Max Ashland, OH 83 – 76 = 159
Groomes, Tyler Dublin, OH 80 – 80 = 160
Sikora, Ryan Avon, OH 80 – 80 = 160
Austalosh, Dean Campbell, OH 82 – 79 = 161
Wonkovich, Eric Lakewood, OH 79 – 82 = 161
Hogan, Robert Clayton, MO 82 – 80 = 162
Jacob, Kyle Medina, OH 80 – 82 = 162
Kimmel, Robert Shaker Heights, OH 83 – 79 = 162
Phan, Dat Lehigh Acres, FL 83 – 79 = 162
Mead, Conor Amherst, OH 83 – 80 = 163
Ankrom, Tyler Akron, OH 78 – 86 = 164
Coyne, Jack University Heights, OH 80 – 84 = 164
Utrup, Christopher Uniontown, OH 82 – 83 = 165
Kubic, Joey Shaker Heights, OH 92 – 84 = 176
Metzendorf, Dan Medina, OH 73 – WD
Schustrich, Robert Windham, OH 81 – WD
Nicotra, Robert Erie, PA 91 – WD
Moore, Cole Spencer, WV WD
Scheid, Matthew Mason, OH WD
Anderson, Scott Columbus, OH WD
De Luca, Domenic Canada WD
Doody, Chris Columbus, OH WD
Tsai, Yu-Ta Taichung, Chinese Taipei WD
Gobezie, Grant Chagrin Falls, OH NS
Goda, Dave Euclid, OH NS
Maclean, Evan Canada NS
Rollins, Patrick Rocky River, OH NS
Kyle, Ward Canada NS
