Latsko Birdies 18, Tops Blackburn in Playoff
50-year old Phil Latsko played a bogey-free final round at Big Met, made birdie at the last hole to tie for first place, then rolled in a birdie putt on the third playoff hole to defeat first-round leader Steve Blackburn Jr. and win his first Senior Greater Cleveland Amateur Championship.
Starting three shots behind the sizzling first round 6-under par 66 put together by Blackburn, Latsko played steadily while Blackburn took a more roller-coaster route. Blackburn overcame a double-bogey at the first hole with three straight birdies at 4-5-6, but then made a second double-bogey at the always tricky par-3 10th hole.
Latsko and Blackburn both made birdie at the par-4 11th. But then Blackburn made bogey at the long, uphill par-3 12th, and the two players were tied for the lead at 5-under par with six holes to play.
Latsko made pars from 13 through 17, while Blackburn made birdie at 13 to retake the lead, gave it back with a bogey on 14, then made his final birdie at the par-5 16th.
One shot behind standing on the 18th tee, Latsko found the fairway but well behind the booming tee shot of Blackburn. They both hit their shots to about 8 feet, but Blackburn missed his birdie putt low while Latsko rolled his putt into the center.
Latsko and Blackburn traded routine pars at the first two playoff holes, with Blackburn burning the edge on the first. But Latsko rolled home his birdie at the short par-4 third to claim the overall Senior Cleveland Am title.
The Senior Cleveland Am committee also breaks the field into age groups for finishes and prizes. Latsko and Blackburn finished 1-2 in the 50-59 age division, while Mark Borlin and Michael Beres finished T-3 overall and shared the first place prize for the 60-69 age division. Jim Cea earned a five-shot victory in the 70+ age group.
FINAL RESULTS: Cleveland Metroparks Golf
2025 CMG Senior Greater Cleveland Amateur Championship
Big Met Golf Course, Fairview Park
Wed, June 25 – Thu, June 26, 2025
Golf Genius Hole-by-Hole Results >
OVERALL RESULTS
Phil Latsko 69 – 69 = 138 $ 570.00
Steve Blackburn Jr. 66 – 72 = 138 $ 347.00
Michael Beres 68 – 73 = 141 $ 233.00
Mark Borlin 71 – 70 = 141 $ 233.00
Paul Krueger 71 – 71 = 142 $ 188.50
Brian Smith 72 – 70 = 142 $ 188.50
Dean Cutlip 69 – 74 = 143 $ 159.50
Ron Chapman 72 – 71 = 143 $ 159.50
Allen Freeman 74 – 70 = 144 $ 139.00
Robert Schustrich 75 – 70 = 145 $ 115.00
Scott Saari 73 – 72 = 145 $ 115.00
Michael Belacic 72 – 74 = 146 $ 73.00
Brian Juguilon 74 – 72 = 146 $ 73.00
Lou Boarman 73 – 73 = 146 $ 73.00
Scott Abercrombie 72 – 76 = 148 $ 56.50
Martin Mangan 75 – 73 = 148 $ 56.50
Roy Beres 76 – 73 = 149
Jim Cea 74 – 75 = 149
John Fryman 75 – 76 = 151
Tom Baugh 75 – 76 = 151
Shayne Fischer 74 – 78 = 152
John Svadba 76 – 76 = 152
Randy Crider 78 – 74 = 152
Charles Chokenea 75 – 78 = 153
Dave Peck 77 – 76 = 153
Michael Hochschwender 75 – 79 = 154
Mark Ciccarello 75 – 79 = 154
Raymond McNiece 80 – 74 = 154
Rick Merrow 77 – 77 = 154
Christopher Walker 76 – 79 = 155
Anthony Lignetta 77 – 78 = 155
George Allen 77 – 78 = 155
Tim Baker 77 – 78 = 155
Cary Slabaugh 78 – 77 = 155
Lawrence M Lahnan 78 – 77 = 155
kevin konno 79 – 76 = 155
Jeff McMurtrie 75 – 80 = 155
Brian Veverka 76 – 80 = 156
Paul Woznicki 78 – 78 = 156
James Wilburn 81 – 75 = 156
Jeff Luken 77 – 79 = 156
Scott Winckowski 76 – 81 = 157
Steve Feist 76 – 81 = 157
Ron Skirpstas 78 – 79 = 157
John Rosko 77 – 81 = 158
Mark Thaggard 80 – 78 = 158
Raymond Najda 84 – 74 = 158
Steve Bedell 75 – 83 = 158
Paul McCrann 78 – 81 = 159
Kirk Seablom 78 – 81 = 159
Dan Hopkins 81 – 78 = 159
Thomas Hronis 77 – 82 = 159
John Dermenof 79 – 81 = 160
Brian McCullough 77 – 83 = 160
Joe Denk 77 – 83 = 160
Marc Pogachar 78 – 82 = 160
Mike Wooley 79 – 81 = 160
Howard Clack 82 – 78 = 160
mike brady 80 – 80 = 160
Danny Holcomb 81 – 80 = 161
Stephen Tischler 82 – 79 = 161
Matthew Timmons 80 – 82 = 162
Douglas Schulz 82 – 80 = 162
Steve Beans 82 – 80 = 162
Pat Walsh 82 – 82 = 164
Dave Kurtz 80 – 85 = 165
Scott Zielinski 86 – 79 = 165
Robert E Wadsworth 78 – 88 = 166
Jeff Safko 85 – 81 = 166
Michael Iosue 82 – 84 = 166
Edward Diebold 87 – 80 = 167
John Iosue 82 – 85 = 167
Kevin Price 85 – 82 = 167
Mark Ihde 87 – 80 = 167
Ken Boerger 82 – 85 = 167
Pat Butterfield 83 – 86 = 169
Steve Blackburn Sr 81 – 88 = 169
Jason Saliba 77 – 93 = 170
Jon Thibo 88 – 82 = 170
Bernie Manilla 88 – 83 = 171
Daniel Wilczynski 84 – 88 = 172
Paul Ferguson 89 – 83 = 172
Steve DeBolt 87 – 85 = 172
Steven Steinhilber 88 – 84 = 172
Andrew Coddington 90 – 83 = 173
John Pace 89 – 89 = 178
Todd Smith 90 – 88 = 178
Ronald Benco 88 – 90 = 178
Mark Jochum 90 – 92 = 182
Kevin Richardson 90 – 94 = 184
Chuck Yurcich 92 – 93 = 185
Zach Bohn 96 – 90 = 186
William Piorkowski 94 – 95 = 189
Roger Herrmann 100 – 98 = 198
Michael Schenek 98 – 105 = 203
Dale Obran 106 – 98 = 204
William Lipscomb 106 – 103 = 209
Marque Davis 97 – 128 = 225
David Trier 76 WD
Rob Button 81 WD
Gary Congin 83 NC
Joe Tasca 76 NC
Tim Heavner 77 WD
Fred Colli 83 WD
TOP FINISHERS BY AGE GROUP
50-59 AGE GROUP
Phil Latsko 69 – 69 = 138 $ 302
Steve Blackburn 66 – 72 = 138 $ 202
Paul Krueger 71 – 71 = 142 $ 101
Brian Smith 72 – 70 = 142 $ 101
Dean Cutlip 69 – 74 = 143 $ 73
Ron Chapman 72 – 71 = 143 $ 73
Robert Schustrich 75 – 70 = 145 $ 63
60-69 AGE GROUP
Michael Beres 68 – 73 = 141 $ 268
Mark Borlin 71 – 70 = 141 $ 268
Allen Freeman 74 – 70 = 144 $ 147
Scott Saari 73 – 72 = 145 $ 107
Lou Boarman 73 – 73 = 146 $ 101
Tom Baugh 75 – 76 = 151 $ 92
Randy Crider 78 – 74 = 152 $ 84
Charles Chokenea 75 – 78 = 153 $ 73
Dave Peck 77 – 76 = 153 $ 73
Michael Hochschwender 75 – 79 = 154 $ 20
Mark Ciccarello 75 – 79 = 154 $ 20
Raymond McNiece 80 – 74 = 154 $ 20
70+ AGE GROUP
Jim Cea 74 – 75 = 149 $ 217
Rick Merrow 77 – 77 = 154 $ 136
Jeff McMurtrie 75 – 80 = 155 $ 69
Jeff Luken 77 – 79 = 156 $ 48
