By Susan Junior

Staff Writer

The 41^st Senior Open, hosted by the Northern Ohio PGA, concluded play after two rounds on the Fazio Course at Firestone Country Club.

Stephen Gangluff of Bellefontaine opened with a record-setting round of seven-under par 63 and added a round of 68 for a two day total of 131, taking home a three-shot victory, the biggest margin since 2021.

Locally, Kent State University alumnus Steve Parker, tied for third (66-70).

Parker is the Director of Instruction at Firestone.

PGA

As the Senior Open competitors were working their way around the 18-holes of the Fazio Course, the Professional Golfers Association announced that the Senior Champions Tour would not be making a stop at the famed Firestone Country Club beginning in 2027. This year’s tournament is the final after a long-standing tradition of 72 years of yearly PGA events.

Disappointing for some, golf fans still have the ability to watch outstanding golf at Firestone similar to the Senior Ohio Open.

This season alone, Firestone has hosted not only the Senior Ohio Open but the NOPGA Pro-Pro Premier in April and the Pro-Pro and Team Match Play Qualifier in May.

Still on the schedule is the Mizuno Pro-3 Junior on the Fazio Course on June 14 and the prestigious 105^th Ohio Open Championship on both the Fazio and the North Courses June 29-July 1.

In addition, the Boys and Girls DII State Tournaments will be held at Firestone Country Club on Oct. 11-12.

All offer many opportunities to watch outstanding golf played by both young and seasoned golfers.

96^TH NORTHEAST OHIO AMATEUR

The 95^th Northeast Ohio Amateur Championship and the 5^th Northeast Ohio Women’s Amateur Championship is currently being played at Windmill Lakes Golf Club in Ravenna with three rounds completing the tournament through Monday.

Everyone in the field plays 36 holes with the field cut prior to the final 18 holes on Monday.

Awards are presented to women, Champions, Mid-Amateur Division, Senior Division and Super-Senior Division.

At the end of first-round action on Saturday, in the Championship Division, Dillon Pendergast of Mogadore, currently competing for Cleveland State University, and Liam Curtis of Kent, a member of the Kent State Golden Flashes team, were tied for third place, each shooting two-under-pars 69.

The duo were one-stroke behind Nick Piesen of Strongsville and a member of Indiana University men’s golf team and Findlay University golf team member Myles Murphy of Maumee, leading the division firing 68s.

Leading the women’s division are Gracyn Vidovic of Aurora, concluding her first year at Ashland University and Kristen Belden of Canton, a junior for the Golden Flashes, each with even-par 71s.

Note: Be sure and check the golf calendar for information on the Portage Sports outing, the Portage County Amateurs and the vast amount of golf scrambles and events hosted at golf courses throughout the greater Portage County area.

GOLF CALENDAR

To be added to this calendar please text 330-206-9083 or email golffam2@gmail.com

PORTAGE SPORTS GOLF SCRAMBLE

The third annual Portage Sports Golf Scramble set for June 7 at Olde Dutch Mill Golf Course is sold out. For additional information email Tom Nader at tomnader@portagesports.com.

PORTAGE COUNTY AMATEURS

To register, visit PCAGolf.net for online registration and information, register in-person at host courses, or mail registration to Portage County Amateur, 2739 Tallmadge Road, Ravenna, OH 44266. To receive an email registration form or for questions call or text 330-206-9083 or email golffam2@gmail.com

JULY 25-26—96^th PORTAGE COUNTY AMATEUR. July 25 – Windmill Lakes Golf Club, Ravenna; July 26 – Raccoon Hill Golf Club, Kent. Divisions: County, Open, Women. 18-holes each day. Registration $100 by July 10; late registration $120 by July 23.

AUGUST 29-30—56^TH PORTAGE COUNTY SENIOR AMATEUR. Aug. 29 – Raccoon Hill Golf Club, Kent; Aug. 30 – Windmill Lakes Golf Club, Ravenna. Age Divisions: 50-59, 60-69, 70-plus, Women. 18-holes each day. Registration $100 by Aug. 14, Late registration $120 by Aug. 26.

JULY 21-22—20^TH MATT MISHLER PORTAGE COUNTY JUNIOR AMATEUR. July 21 – Sunny Hill Golf Course, Brimfield; July 22 – Raccoon Hill Golf Course, Ravenna. Age Divisions for Boys and Girls: 16-19, 13-15 play 18-holes each day; Boys and Girls 12 and under play nine holes each day. Registration ages 13-19 $60, 12 and under $45. Deadline July 18. Each golfer receives a $10 gift certificate.

JULY 19—12^TH PORTAGE COUNTY KIDS AMATEUR. July 19 – Sunny Hill Golf Course, Brimfield (middle nine). Four separate age divisions for boys and girls: Grades 8-9, 6-7 (play nine holes) – $20; Grades 4-5 (play six holes) $20; Grades 3 and under (plays four holes) $15. Deadline July 16.

LOCAL OUTINGS AND SCRAMBLES

JUNE

June 7—Portage Sports Annual Golf Outing @ Olde Dutch Mill Golf Course, Lake Milton.

June 20—Rootstown Endzone Club Golf Outing @ Sunny Hill Golf Outing, Brimfield.

JULY

July 25-26—Christmas in July Night Golf @ Fairways at Twin Lakes. $240 per foursome.

AUGUST

Aug. 10—Ben Curtis Golf Classic @ Congress Lake Golf Club, Hartville

Aug. 28—Ravenna Chamber of Commerce Golf Outing@ Windmill Lakes Golf Course, Ravenna.

JUNIOR GOLF

JULY

July 20—Ohio Girls Golf Foundation Showcase, Avon Oaks Country Club, Avon.

NORTHERN OHIO PGA (register at thenorthernohiopga.com)

June 30 – July 2—104^th Pyramid Treating Ohio Open, Firestone Country Club, Akron.

NOPGA JUNIOR GOLF (register at thenorthernohiopga.com – registration now open)

NORTHERN OHIO PGA JUNIOR TOURS…

The NOPGA has several tours for juniors including the Next Level Tour (36 hole events), Performance Tour (18-hole events) and Futures Tour (9 holes).

The Futures Tour are unique nine-hole events giving junior golfers a chance to experience tournament golf in a fun environment.

Members receive a gift and a personalized caddie bib.

SCHEDULE

June 2—Performance Tour, Ellsworth Meadows, Hudson

June 2—Futures Tour, Ellsworth Meadows, Hudson

June 8-9—Next Level at Alliance Country Club, Alliance

June 19—Futures Tour, Mill Creek Golf Club, Boardman

Falls

June 22-23—Junior PGA Section Championship, Glenmoor Country Club, Canton

June 24—Futures Tour, Tannenhauf Golf Club, Alliance

July 6—Performance Tour, Silver Lake Country Club, Stow

July 7—Performance Tour, Tanglewood Golf Club, Chagrin

July 9-10—Next Level @ Fox Den, Stow

July 14-15—Next Level @ Windmill Lakes Golf Club, Ravenna.

July 23—Futures Tour, Mud Run Golf Course, Akron.

July 27-28—43^rd NOPGA Jr. Tour Championship, Oberlin Country Club, Oberlin