By Susan Jenior

Staff Writer

It was the perfect day for golf at Raccoon Hill Golf Course in Kent for the first round of the 55^th Senior Portage County Amateur.

DAVE PECK (MACEDONIA)

Many golfers complimented the condition of the golf course as several outstanding scores were posted in the three divisions.

Low men in the clubhouse were the leaders of the Platinum Division (age 70 and older).

On the par 71 fairways of Raccoon Hill, both Jim Herchek of Chagrin Falls and John Sloe of Aurora fired rounds of 67, the scores posted in the 60s of the event.

Sloe and Herchek will both play in the championship pairing on Sunday at Windmill with Paul Trenta of Hartville who turned in a score of one-over-par 72.

In the Gold Division (ages 60-69), Dave Peck of Macedonia leads by two strokes after his even-par round of 71. Peck is chased by David Dees of Lisbon (73) and Robert Gintert of Newton Falls (76).

For the youngest guys in the tournament, the Senior Division (age 50-59), Doug Lockwood, playing in his first Portage County Amateur, fired a 77 to best both Chris Minear of Akron (78) and Dove Fall of Windham (73).

DOUG LOCKWOOD (POWELL)

Those championship pairings feature new and returning favorites to the Senior Portage County Amateur as Minear, Fall, Peck, Gintert, Herchek and Sloe, have all found themselves in the winners circle or in the top three of the event in the past regardless of the division they were playing.

Senior Amateur competitors tee off beginning at 11:04 at Windmill Lakes Golf Club on Sunday with awards presented following the completion of each division.

SCOREBOARD

55^th PORTAGE COUNTY SENIOR AMATEUR

SCOREBOARD FOLLOWING FIRST ROUND

AT RACCOON HILL GOLF CLUB, KENT 9/30

SENIOR DIVISION (Age 50-59)

Doug Lockwood, Powell 77

Chris Minear, Akron 78

Dove Fall, Windham 83

JIM HERCHEK (CHAGRIN FALLS)

Bobby Wadsworth, Uniontown 83

Matt Harness, Cleveland 84

Eric Ernsberger, Ravenna 90

Andrew Coddington, Independence 109

GOLD DIVISION (Ages 60-69)

Dave Peck, Macedonia 71

David Dees, Lisbon 73

Robert Gintert, Newton Falls 76

Jeff Luken, Middleburg Hts. 76

Lou Boarman, Mogadore 78

Dave Stover, Pepper Pike 79

Matt Manno, Middlefield 79

Ray McNiece, Cleveland 80

Randy Wilburn, Deerfield 80

JOHN SLOE (AURORA)

John Sales, Canton 80

Gary Congin, Chesterland 82

Steve DeBolt, Newton Falls 83

David Ritter, Akron 86

Ron Rositani, Willowick 91

Tom Freeman, Akron 94

PLATINUM DIVISION (Age 70+)

Jim Herchek, Chagrin Falls 67

John Sloe, Aurora 67

Paul Trenta, Hartville 72

Steve Bedell, Champion 77

Keith Pluto, Parma 78

Dan Ledenican, Aurora 82