CHARDON, Ohio: The team from the Northern Ohio Professional Golfers Association will have some work to do when the 30th Ohio Cup Matches resume Wednesday at Sand Ridge Golf Club.
The Southern Ohio PGA leads the competition, 9-7, heading into Wednesday’s 16 Singles Matches.
The NOPGA, seeking to increase its lead in the overall series to 18-12, played its counterparts to a 4-4 tie in the opening Four-Ball matches of the event, which is patterned after the Ryder Cup.
It was a different story in the Foursomes segment, when the SOPGA won five of the eight matches to build a two-point lead.
At one point, the SOPGA held a 9-4 advantage, but the NOPGA won the final three matches to cut the deficit to two points.
The teams of Gary Rusnak and Nick Paez, Michael Balcar and Anthony Panepento, and Nick Gustin and Mark Sierak helped the NOPGA close the gap with victories that went the full 18 holes.
Balcar and Panepento won, 2-up, over Taylor Suggs and Alex Martin, while Gustin and Sierak defeated Chase Wilson and substitute Danny Sorgini, 1-up. Paez and Rusnak also earned a 1-up victory over Brad Loomis and Mike Thomas.
Gustin, Sierak, Paez and Rusnak each finished the day with a 1-0-1 record, contributing 1½ points apiece to the NOPGA total.
The NOPGA, seeking to avenge last year’s 17½-14½ loss, received two victories apiece from Balcar & Panepento. The SOPGA’s two-match winners were Sam Arnold, Joe Moore, Jared Jones, Andy Montgomery, Wilson and Sorgini.
The 16 Singles Matches are scheduled to begin Wednesday at 8:30 a.m.
DAY 1 RESULTS: NOPGA + SOPGA
2026 30th Ohio Cup
Sand Ridge Golf Club, Chardon
Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Blue Golf Match Results >
FOUR-BALL AND FOURSOMES RESULTS
TUESDAY FOUR-BALL: Sam Arnold-Joe Moore (SOPGA) def. Steve Parker-Mitch Camp, 1-up; Jaysen Hansen-Jim Troy (NOPGA) def. Bob Sowards-Michael Auterson, 2 & 1; Gary Rusnak-Nick Paez (NOPGA) halved Dave Bahr-Chad Ammer; Jared Jones-Andy Montgomery (SOPGA) def. Ian Haidle-Jordan Paolini, 6 & 4; Nick Gustin-Mark Sierak (NOPGA) halved Corey Weckerling-Allie White; Sean Kenily-Jon Jones (NOPGA) def. Brad Loomis-Mike Thomas, 4 & 3; Michael Balcar-Anthony Panepento (NOPGA) def. Taylor Suggs-Alex Martin, 5 & 3; Chase Wilson-Danny Sorgini (SOPGA) def. Randy Dietz-Cory Kumpf, 1-up.
NOPGA 4, SOPGA 4.
TUESDAY FOURSOMES: Jared Jones-Andy Montgomery (SOPGA) def. Jaysen Hansen-Jim Troy, 6 & 5; Corey Weckerling-Allie White (SOPGA) def. Ian Haidle-Jordan Paolini, 4 & 2; Sam Arnold-Joe Moore (SOPGA) def. Sean Kenily-Jon Jones, 3 & 2; Dave Bahr-Chad Ammer (SOPGA) halved Steve Parker-Mitch Camp; Bob Sowards-Michael Auterson (SOPGA) def. Cory Kumpf-Randy Dietz, 2 & 1; Gary Rusnak-Nick Paez (NOPGA) def. Brad Loomis-Mike Thomas, 1-up; Anthony Panepento-Michael Balcar (NOPGA) def. Taylor Suggs-Alex Martin, 2-up; Nick Gustin-Mark Sierak (NOPGA) def. Danny Sorgini-Chase Wilson, 1-up.
SOPGA 5, NOPGA 3.
OVERALL: SOPGA 9, NOPGA 7.
