Bob Sowards Wins for a Record Sixth Time; Mark Borlin Wins Senior Plus in a Come-Back
Dublin’s Bob Sowards put together back-to-back rounds of 4-under par 66 and won the Ohio Senior Open championship for a record sixth time in the last seven years on Thursday on the Fazio Course at Firestone Country Club.
With two bogey-free rounds Sowards, 57, finished at 8-under par 132 to edge Fairlawn amateur and first-round leader Howard Clendenin by two strokes in a tournament that took on a match-play feeling after other contenders fell out of the picture.
It marked the second time that Clendenin, a Firestone member, finished second to Sowards in this event. Clendenin closed with a 69 to finish at six-under par 134.
Sam Arnold, General Manager of The Vineyard Golf Course in Cincinnati, matched Sowards’ 66 with seven birdies to finish in a tie for third with Belmont Country Club assistant professional Mike Stone, both four shots back at 136.
Sowards’ 132 matched his lowest 36-hole total in the Senior Open, which he shot in winning in 2019 with rounds of 69-63.
Sowards began the day one shot behind Clendenin and the two were tied at 6-under until Sowards took the lead for good with a birdie on the 478-yard 13th hole and Clendenin’s birdie attempt lipped out from about 10 feet.
Sowards won $3,000 for the victory.
Stow amateur Mark Borlin came from four shots behind first-round leaders Allen Freeman, Tim Krapfel, and Marc Fried, to win the Senior Plus Division with a two-day total of 75-67=142. Borlin’s 3-under par 67 on Thursday was the lowest round shot anyone in the 60-and-over age bracket over the 36 holes and more than made up for his opening round.
Cleveland’s David Games shot 73-70=143 to finish second and Krapfel, a teaching professional from Galloway, was third at 71=73=144 and low professional.
Borlin had three birdies and no bogeys over his final nine holes, which lead to a decisive closing run.
RD2 PHOTO GALLERY: 2025 Ohio Senior Open >
FINAL RESULTS: Northern Ohio PGA
2025 Ohio Senior Open Championship
Firestone Country Club Fazio Course, Akron – Par 70
Wednesday, May 28 – Thursday, May 29, 2025
BlueGolf Hole-by-Hole Results >
1 Bob Sowards, Dublin, OH 66 – 66 = 132
2 Howard Clendenin (a), Fairlawn, OH, Firestone Country Club 65 – 69 = 134
T3 Sam Arnold, Cincinnati, OH 70 – 66 = 136
T3 Mike Stone, Perrysburg, OH, Belmont Country Club 68 – 68 = 136
5 Paul Wackerly, Minerva, OH 73 – 67 = 140
6 Nick Myers, Sylvania, OH, Highland Meadows Golf Club 75 – 66 = 141
T7 Joseph Moore, Englewood, OH 73 – 69 = 142
T7 Dennis Miller, Youngstown, OH, PGA Of America Life Member 70 – 72 = 142
T7 Michael Riley (a), Akron, OH, Fairlawn Country Club 69 – 73 = 142
T7 Jon Jones, Warren, OH, Youngstown Country Club 68 – 74 = 142
11 Mitch Camp, Aurora, OH, PGA Of America Life Member 71 – 72 = 143
T12 Matthew Sutter (a), North Canton, OH, Brookside Country Club 73 – 71 = 144
T12 Rob Moss, Broadview Heights, OH, Pepper Pike Club 68 – 76 = 144
T12 Brian Unk, Lewis Center, OH 75 – 69 = 144
T12 Tom Waitrovich, Westlake, Ohio, PGA Of America Life Member 68 – 76 = 144
16 Mike Thomas, Loveland, OH 69 – 76 = 145
T17 Daniel Terry, Wadsworth, OH, Chippewa Golf Club – Doylestown 78 – 68 = 146
T17 Peter Samborsky II (a), Kettering, Ohio 72 – 74 = 146
T19 Dave Antill (a), Dublin, OH 74 – 73 = 147
T19 Mike Kaido, Zanesville, OH 73 – 74 = 147
T19 Rik Cramer, Bellbrook, OH 72 – 75 = 147
T19 Brian Smith (a), Amherst, OH, Oberlin Golf Club 70 – 77 = 147
T23 Robert Schustrich (a), Windham, OH 72 – 76 = 148
T23 Garrett Frank (a), Youngstown, OH 73 – 75 = 148
T23 Jeff Mallette (a), North Canton, OH, Brookside Country Club 76 – 72 = 148
T23 Steve Parker, Akron, OH, Firestone Country Club 72 – 76 = 148
T23 Chris Black, Lancaster, OH, OH 75 – 73 = 148
T28 Scott Pollack, Chagrin Falls, OH, 1899 Indoor Golf – Twinsburg 80 – 69 = 149
T28 Peter Betzold (a), West Chester, OH, Twin Run Golf Course 75 – 74 = 149
T28 John Goodson, Hudson, OH, Lake Forest Country Club 74 – 75 = 149
T28 Gary Trivisonno, Aurora, OH, PGA Of America Life Member 74 – 75 = 149
T28 Gary Rusnak, Painesville, OH, 1899 Indoor Golf – Twinsburg 76 – 73 = 149
T28 Mark Guadagni (a), Hudson, OH, Silver Lake Country Club 76 – 73 = 149
T28 John Bernatovicz (a), Akron, OH, Westfield Group Country Club 75 – 74 = 149
T35 Darrin Vaughan, Bolivar, OH 74 – 76 = 150
T35 Scott Savage, Mount Vernon, OH 74 – 76 = 150
T35 Willie Yacknow, Fairlawn, OH, Challenge Golf Course At Edwin Shaw Rehab 76 – 74 = 150
T35 John Fryman (a), Westerville, OH 75 – 75 = 150
T35 Steve Mulcahy, Lima, Ohio, University of Findlay 75 – 75 = 150
T35 Robert Spino (a), New Franklin, OH, Ohio Prestwick Country Club 75 – 75 = 150
T41 Wayne Moler (a), Waterford, OH 78 – 73 = 151
T41 Ryan Reichley (a), Dayton, OH 77 – 74 = 151
T41 David Dinan, Akron, OH, Windmill Golf Center​ 72 – 79 = 151
T41 Tony Milam, Concord Township, OH, North Coast Junior Tour 75 – 76 = 151
T41 Kevin Sullivan, Painesville, OH, Quail Hollow Country Club – Weiskopf/Morrish 75 – 76 = 151
T46 David Clancy (a), Springboro, OH 81 – 71 = 152
T46 Jay Davis (a), St Clairsville, OH, Steubenville Country Club 76 – 76 = 152
T48 Chris Brooks (a), Columbus, OH 81 – 72 = 153
T48 Mark Evans, Stow, OH, The Mayfield Sand Ridge Club – Mayfield 75 – 78 = 153
T48 James Logue Jr, Westerville, OH 79 – 74 = 153
T48 Craig Goldsberry, Lewis Center, OH, Bent Tree Golf Club 77 – 76 = 153
T48 Brian Jones, West Chester, OH 77 – 76 = 153
T48 Kurt Peterson (a), Massillon, OH 77 – 76 = 153
T48 Doug Ganim (a), Westerville, OH 76 – 77 = 153
T55 Mike Haynes (a), Gallipolis, OH 79 – 75 = 154
T55 Paul Krueger (a), Parma, OH 79 – 75 = 154
T57 Chris Casto, Galena, OH, NorthStar Golf Club 82 – 73 = 155
T57 Bob Stephens, Mason, OH, PGA Life Member 81 – 74 = 155
T57 Nick Lambos (a), Canton, OH, Brookside Country Club 80 – 75 = 155
T60 Joe Podolski (a), Worthington, OH 80 – 76 = 156
T60 Brad Cavey, Medina, OH, Beechmont Country Club 78 – 78 = 156
T62 Brian Beebe (a), Uniontown, OH, Firestone Country Club 75 – 82 = 157
T62 Jason Leeds (a), Powell, OH 78 – 79 = 157
T62 Bob Koch, Medina, OH, Fox Meadow Country Club 76 – 81 = 157
65 Dale Davis, Akron, OH, Firestone Country Club 76 – 82 = 158
T66 Stephen Mayes (a), Westerville, OH 83 – 76 = 159
T66 Derek Kesig (a), Delaware, OH 82 – 77 = 159
T66 Scott Loudon (a), Canton, OH, Ohio Prestwick Country Club 81 – 78 = 159
T66 Dean Cutlip (a), Copley, OH, Firestone Country Club 80 – 79 = 159
T70 Scott Karabin, Warren, OH, Old Avalon Golf Course 82 – 78 = 160
T70 Trevor Thomas, Findlay, OH, The Delphos Country Club 80 – 80 = 160
T72 Ronald Salerno, Broadview Hts, OH, X-Golf Broadview Heights 84 – 77 = 161
T72 Ryan Groff (a), Troy, OH 82 – 79 = 161
T72 Ken Kinkopf (a), Jupiter, FL 80 – 81 = 161
T72 Roger Tolley (a), Willard, OH, Eagle Creek Golf Club 80 – 81 = 161
T76 Jeff Thrams (a), North Canton, OH, Shady Hollow Country Club 83 – 79 = 162
T76 Mark Warden (a), Vincent, OH 81 – 81 = 162
78 Dan Sutton, Holland, OH, McDivots Driving Range 87 – 76 = 163
79 Edward Diebold (a), Coventry Township, OH 79 – 85 = 164
80 Brian Crowthers (a), Cincinnati, OH 84 – 82 = 166
81 Dennis Dempsey (a), Madison, OH, Quail Hollow Country Club 85 – 82 = 167
T82 Jon Bucciarelli (a), Munroe Falls, OH 88 – 88 = 176
T82 Dirk HartmanAkron, OH, The First Tee of Akron 88 – 88 = 176
84 David Mosley (a), West Chester, OH, Hamilton Elks GC W/B 91 – 87 = 178
85 Brad Stewart (a), Doylestown, OH 93 – 88 = 181
WD Tony Adcock, Canton, OH, Foxy Golf Canton   Â
WD Robert Huston (a), Loveland, OH, Tri County Golf Ranch   Â
WD Timothy Ailes, Delaware, OH Â Â Â
WD Kenneth Lacy, Toledo, OH, Ottawa Park Golf Course   Â
WD Michael Sweany (a), Massillon, OH Â Â Â
SENIOR PLUS DIVISION
1 Mark Borlin (a), Stow, OH, Silver Lake Country Club 75 – 67 = 142
2 David Games (a), Cleveland, OH 73 – 70 = 143
3 Tim Krapfel, Galloway, OH 71 – 73 = 144
T4 Tom Baugh (a), Akron, OH, Portage Country Club 75 – 70 = 145
T4 Edward Steiber (a), Cincinnati, OH 74 – 71 = 145
T4 Marc Fried (a), Solon, OH, Signature of Solon Country Club 71 – 74 = 145
7 Tom Laubacher (a), Aurora, OH, Club Walden 75 – 71 = 146
8 Allen Freeman (a), Brecksville, OH 71 – 77 = 148
T9 Pat Delaney, Springfield, OH 77 – 72 = 149
T9 Jack Pawelkoski, Dayton, OH 78 – 71 = 149
T9 Jeff Semple (a), Canton, OH, Firestone Country Club 76 – 73 = 149
T9 Mike Cassell (a), Hudson, OH, The Country Club of Hudson 74 – 75 = 149
T9 Steven Shaw, Brecksville, OH, Firestone Country Club 72 – 77 = 149
T14 Doug Ison (a), Jackson, OH 79 – 72 = 151
T14 Terry Tyson (a), Perrysburg, OH 76 – 75 = 151
T14 Terry Shell, Wintersville, OH, PGA Of America Life Member 75 – 76 = 151
T14 Kim Boehlke, Youngstown, OH, PGA Of America Life Member 75 – 76 = 151
T14 Todd Company, Avon, Ohio, Red Tail Golf Club 72 – 79 = 151
T14 Dan DeVore (a), Cincinnati, OH, Hamilton Elks GC W/B 72 – 79 = 151
20 Dean Pahr (a), Beachwood, OH, Canterbury Golf Club 74 – 78 = 152
T21 Larry Lahnan (a), Aurora, OH, Club Walden 79 – 74 = 153
T21 John Toth (a), Akron, OH, Fox Den Golf Course 77 – 76 = 153
23 Philip Russo (a), Cincinnati, OH, The Golf Club at Stonelick Hills 79 – 76 = 155
24 Gregg Matthus, Canton, OH, Shady Hollow Country Club 79 – 77 = 156
T25 Larry King, Cincinnati, OH, Tri County Golf Ranch 81 – 76 = 157
T25 John Martin, Deleware, OH 78 – 79 = 157
T27 Michael Ross (a), Hinckley, OH, Weymouth Club 81 – 77 = 158
T27 Dave Ison (a), Pedro, OH 84 – 74 = 158
T27 Curtis Cranmer (a), Waynesville, OH 79 – 79 = 158
T27 Beau Rugg (a), Hilliard, OH 78 – 80 = 158
T27 Mark Boothby (a), Cincinnati, OH 76 – 82 = 158
T32 David Clarke (a), Saint Clairsville, OH, Steubenville Country Club 82 – 78 = 160
T32 Theo Grubb, Milford, OH, Elks Run Golf Club 81 – 79 = 160
T32 Clay Baker (a), Galena, OH 80 – 80 = 160
T32 Fred Gintert (a), Pearland, TX 84 – 76 = 160
36 Mark Ciccarello (a), South euclid, OH, Highland Park Golf Course – Blue Course 81 – 80 = 161
T37 George Allen (a), Warren, OH 81 – 82 = 163
T37 Scott Campbell (a), Strongsville, OH, Weymouth Club 84 – 79 = 163
39 John Jewell (a), Centerville, OH 86 – 82 = 168
40 Raymond Najda (a), Olmsted Township, OH, Pine Hills Golf Club 91 – 81 = 172
41 Blake Smith, Canfield, OH 87 – 87 = 174
42 Doug Wade (a), Galens, OH 85 – 92 = 177
WD Leo Szczepanski (a), Seven Hills, OH Â Â Â
WD Mike Crawford (a), Sheffield Lake, OH Â Â Â
WD Frank Guise (a), Westlake, OH, Oberlin Golf Club   Â
WD Doug Hauenstein (a), Aurora, OH Â Â Â
