PHOTOS:
COUNTY DIVISION CHAMPIONS, from the left: Derrick Benner, runner-up; James Bokshon, champion; Brendan Osborne, third place.
WOMEN DIVISION CHAMPIONS: Hannah Higgins, champion; Sammy Moore, North Benton.
OPEN DIVISION CHAMPIONS: Ty VanBulck, champion; Jason Moore, runner-up; Nathan Miller, third place.
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CHAMPIONS CROWNED IN 96TH PORTAGE COUNTY AMATEUR
The final round of the 96th Portage County Amateur was like moving day on the PGA tour.
As golfers made their way around the 18 holes of Raccoon Hill Golf Course, the leaderboard changed in all three divisions: Women, County and Open.
Some golfers even left the sit as they thought they didn’t have the opportunity to win and then found out they needed to return for the awards presentation.
COUNTY DIVISION
That was the case in the County Division as James Bokshon of Ravenna thought the 79 he fired during the 18-holes was not good enough to break into the top three champions but, in reality, his 79 paired with his 76 from Windmill gave him a final one-stroke lead, 155, over Derrick Benner of Mantua 76-80 156.
Rounding out the top three was Brendan Osborne of Mantua, also carding a two-round total of 156, missing second place in a scorecard playoff.
Early first-round leader, Laszlo of Rootstown, who was three-over-par (74) at Windmill added an 84 at Raccoon Hill for a 158.
The Portage County Amateur is unique in that golfers compee in a County Division and an Open Division (golfers residing outside of Portage County) maintaining the integrity of the Amateur crowning the best golfer in the event in the local county.
Golfers can compare their scores overall because the golfers in the County and Open Divisions play the same pro tees.
OPEN DIVISION
In the Open Division, Ty Vanbulck of Hartville, earned a one-stroke victory, carding a nice two-over-par 73 at Raccoon Hill to add to his 76 at Windmill Lakes for the one-stroke victory over Jason Moore of Cuyahoga Falls and Nathan Miller of Youngstown, each carding 150’s.
Moore was low-man in the clubhouse for the final day, carding an even-par 71 to par with the 79 he fired at Windmill Lakes.
Miller found Raccoon Hill a little more challenging. The incoming freshman, playing for the Youngstown State University Penguins in the fall, carded a 72, two-over-par at Windmill and added a 78, also carding a 150
WOMEN's DIVISION
It was neck-and-neck in the Women’s Division.
At the end of the first round at Windmill Lakes, Sammy Morgan, a junior this season for the Southeast Lady Pirates and reigning champion of the Junior Portage County Amateur, fired a 74, leading by three strokes over fellow competitor Hannah Higgins (77).
At Raccoon Hill, Higgins of North Canton, a senior at Lewis University in Chicago, scored a 79 to Morgan’s 83.
The result was Higgins, who also works for the Northern Ohio PGA this summer, a one-stroke victory over Morgan.
It doesn’t get much closer than that.
Many golfers commented on the long tradition of the Portage County Amateur (96 years and counting) and already solidified their registrations for 2027 as golfers look toward their high school, collegiate and fall league and tournament golf seasons.
96th PORTAGE COUNTY AMATEUR
FINAL TWO-ROUND TOTAL
(18-HOLES EACH AT WINDMILL LAKES & RACCOON Hill)
WOMEN
Hannah Higgins, Norton Canton 77-79 156
Sammy Morgan, North Benton 74-83 157.
COUNTY
James Bokshon, Ravenna 76-79 155
Derrick Benner, Mantua 76-80 156
Brendan Osborne, Mantua 76-80 156
Laszlo May, Rootstown 74-84 158
Mason Bartholomy, Rootstown 80-77 157
Ed Marsinek, Ravenna 84-76 160
Dove Fall, Windham 79-81 160
James Morgan, Berlin Lake 83-79 162
Ben Jenior, Rootstown 81-83 164
Randy Wilburn, Deerfield 79-85 164
Evan Dalziel, Kent 86-83 169
Logan Uphold, Ravenna 82-93 175
Bailey Campbell, Suffield 92-85 177
Mike Rezabek, Ravenna 89-94 183
Cooper Devins, Aurora 94-90 184
Brian Kinter, Rootstown 98-89 187
Eric Ernsberger, Ravenna 105-90 201
Marty Reynolds, Ravenna 113-110 223.
OPEN
Ty VanBulck, Hartville 76-73 149
Jason Moore, Cuyahoga Falls 79-71 150
Nathan Miller, Youngstown 72-78 150
Thomas Mankowski, Canton 78-77 155
Chris Nurse, Lake Milton 73-86 156
Derek Sibit, Akron 85-82 167