Bellefontaine’s Gangluff Becomes 8th Man to Win Two of Ohio’s Most Prestigous Titles
On Wednesday he equaled the tournament record.
On Thursday he equaled a milestone achievement.
A pretty good two days of work by anyone’s estimation.
Bellefontaine’s Stephen Gangluff did not aim to set any records or join any elite groups when he entered the 41st Ohio Senior Open, his first time playing in an event for players 50-and-over.
But, like any competitor, he did set out to win. And he did. Impressively.
Equaling a tournament scoring record can go a long way toward winning and Gangluff’s opening 7-under 63 on Wednesday went a long way in his winning one of Ohio’s most prestigious senior events on Thursday on the South Course of Firestone Country Club.
Gangluff, 50, added a final-round 68 for a two-day total of 9-under 131 and a three-shot victory, the widest margin of victory in this event since 2021.
Beavercreek Golf Club head professional Joe Moore put on a dazzling display over his final nine holes with three birdies and an eagle to finish second at 68-66=134 and four players, Perrysburg’s Mike Stone (68-68), Cincinnati’s Sam Arnold (66-70), the aforementioned Sowards (64-72) and Firestone Country Club Director of Instruction Steve Parker (66-70) finished in a tie for third.
Swirling winds, which reached 10-to-15 mph throughout the day, caused havoc for some. Combined with the rough and Fazio’s slick, undulating greens, scores were higher in the second round. The average score for the field in the first round was 75.14. It increased to 76.03 in the second.
By winning the Senior Open in his first attempt – he turned 50 in September – Gangluff became the eighth man to win the Ohio Open – which he did in 2017 and 2018 – and the Senior Open.
It’s an illustrious list that Gangluff joins: Gary Robison, Gary Trivisonno, Bob Sowards, Jim Logue, Mitch Camp, Martin Roesink and Dick Plummer. Five of previous double-winners are in the NOPGA Hall of Fame. Sowards, arguably the most decorated Senior player in the state, and Plummer were not NOPGA members.
Gangluff’s opening 63 equaled the single-round record by Trivisonno in 2011 and tied by Sowards in 2019. His 36-hole score of 131 equaled that of Tom Herzan in 2007, but three shots shy of Trivisonno’s 12-under 128 in 2011.
At one point early on the back nine on Thursday Gangluff flirted with Trivisonno’s 36-hole mark. He birdied two of the first three holes on the back and got to 11-under with an eagle on the 478-yard 13th, a par-5 that played downwind. Many players – including Gangluff, Parker and Sowards – reached it in two thanks to the wind.
Gangluff not only reached it he got it to 8 feet below the hole on his second and made the putt. The chances of matching – or bettering Trivisonno faded as Gangluff missed a 5-footer for birdies on the par-3 14th and then bogeyed the next two holes to fall to 9-under.
“I kind of messed up there,” Gangluff said. “I was thinking too much instead of just playing golf. I haven’t been in that spot of trying to win, probably since I won the Ohio Open in ’18.”
What many had anticipated as a two-man, head-to-head final grouping of Gangluff and Sowards – with Parker and Arnold lurking close behind — never materialized.
Sowards, seeking a record seventh straight Senior Open title, just never got hot and did not get the ball close to the hole as he did during his near-record opening 64. He made seven straight pars before making just his second bogey in 22 holes on the difficult 461-yard eighth, a hole Sowards feels is the toughest on the course.
By the time the final group made the turn Gangluff had a two-shot lead and he quickly began to step on the pedal – if not everyone’s throat – on the 10th.
He birdied the 10th from eight feet to get to 8-under, made a routine par on 11 and birdied the 170-yard 12th when his 7-iron into a stiff wind stopped 3 feet from the hole.
Then came the clincher on the par-5 13th, despite having five holes remaining. Gangluff, Sowards and Parker were all within 10 yards of one another off the tee in the middle of the fairway with Gangluff hitting first.
He pounded his second over the water fronting the green, holding the ball about eight feet under the hole. He would go on to make the putt for eagle.
Sowards, trailing by four at this point, probably had to gamble but his second shot faded slightly and missed clearing the pond by about five yards, resulting in a bogey.
Two of Gangluff’s buddies, who had followed him faithfully for 31 holes, and caddie Benny Lewis, quietly whooped it up when Gangluff’s putt dropped.
“That’s it, baby,” said Benny’s brother Nate. “It’s over.”
Next stop for Gangluff is Monday’s U.S. Senior Open qualifier at Miami Valley. If he fails to qualify Gangluff has already entered the 105th Ohio Open, June 29-July 1 at Firestone.
“If I don’t qualify you can bet I’ll be here for the Ohio Open,” he said.
Winning the Open would give him three titles and enable him to join another elite group. Seven players, including Sowards, have won three Open titles, one shy of the record four won by Denny Shute and Bill Burke.
You can bet Gangluff would love to become the eighth and why not? He became the eighth to win both the Open and the Senior Open. The oddity would be too great to ignore.
SENIOR PLUS: Cincinnati’s Larry King played his way into the NOPGA and Ohio Senior Open record book. He shot rounds of 70-73=143 (+3) to win the Senior Plus Division championship for players 60-over. Thus, he joins NOPGA Hall-of-Famer Jim Logue as the only two men to win the Regular Division (50-and-over) and the Senior Plus Division. Logue, long-time pro at Canton Brookside, won the Senior Open six times and the Senior Plus Division three times.
King, the owner and operator of the Tri-County Golf Ranch in Cincinnati, won the Regular Division in 2003 and 2012.
Defending champion and first-round leader Mark Borlin opened with a 68 but stumbled to 6-over 76 but still finished second.
Eight of the top 10 finishers were amateurs.
PHOTO GALLERY: 2026 Ohio Senior Open RD2 >
FINAL RESULTS: Northern Ohio PGA
2026 Ohio Senior Open
Firestone Country Club Fazio Course, Akron
Wednesday, May 27 – Thursday, May 28, 2026
Blue Golf Hole-by-Hole Results >
Main Division Results:
1. Stephen Gangluff, Bellfontaine, OH, *63-68-131 -9
2. Joe Moore, Englewood, OH, *68-66-134 -6
3. Mike Stone, Perrysburg, OH, *68-68-136 -4
3. Sam Arnold, Cincinnati, OH, *66-70-136 -4
3. Bob Sowards, Dublin, OH, *64-72-136 -4
3. Steve Parker, Akron, OH, *66-70-136 -4
7. Gary Robison, Muncie, IN, *71-67-138 -2
7. Jeff Mallette (a), North Canton, OH, *71-67-138 -2
7. Garrett Frank (a), Youngstown, OH, *70-68-138 -2
10. Howard Clendenin (a), Fairlawn, OH, *71-68-139 -1
10. Paul Wackerly, Minerva, OH, *70-69-139 -1
10. Brian Unk, Lewis Center, OH, *69-70-139 -1
13. Dennis Miller, Youngstown, OH, *69-71-140 E
13. Brad Loomis, Harrison, OH, *68-72-140 E
15. Peter Samborsky II (a), Kettering, Ohio, *71-71-142 +2
15. Mike Thomas, Loveland, OH, *68-74-142 +2
17. John Fryman (a), Westerville, OH, *71-73-144 +4
17. Rob Moss, Broadview Heights, OH, *70-74-144 +4
17. Tony Milam, Concord Township, OH, *68-76-144 +4
20. Gary Rusnak, Painesville, OH, *73-72-145 +5
21. David Dinan, Akron, OH, *72-74-146 +6
21. Dan Belden (a), Massillon, OH, *72-74-146 +6
21. Mike Kaido, Zanesville, OH, *76-70-146 +6
21. Rik Cramer, Bellbrook, OH, *75-71-146 +6
21. Robert Spino (a), New Franklin, OH, *74-72-146 +6
26. Chris Black, Lancaster, OH, *73-74-147 +7
26. John Bernatovicz (a), Akron, OH, *72-75-147 +7
26. Matthew Sutter (a), North Canton, OH, *71-76-147 +7
26. Tom Waitrovich, Westlake, Ohio, *71-76-147 +7
26. Chris Casto, Galena, OH, *66-81-147 +7
26. Tom Bach, Dayton, OH, *74-73-147 +7
26. Greg Lawrence, Vandalia, OH, *74-73-147 +7
33. Nick Myers, Sylvania, OH, *73-75-148 +8
33. Kevin Sullivan, Painesville, OH, *76-72-148 +8
33. Joe Podolski (a), Worthington, OH, *70-78-148 +8
33. Tom Atchison, Silver Lake, OH, *76-72-148 +8
33. Jon Jones, Warren, OH, *76-72-148 +8
33. Paul Hollenbaugh, New Albany, OH, *75-73-148 +8
39. Michael Kelley (a), Westerville, OH, *73-76-149 +9
39. Dave Antill (a), Dublin, OH, *73-76-149 +9
41. Mitch Camp, Aurora, OH, *73-77-150 +10
41. John Goodson, Hudson, OH, *75-75-150 +10
43. Robert Schustrich (a), Windham, OH, *80-71-151 +11
43. Craig Goldsberry, Lewis Center, OH, *77-74-151 +11
43. Brian Jones, West Chester, OH, *77-74-151 +11
43. Gary Trivisonno, Aurora, OH, *76-75-151 +11
43. Barry Hinckley, Blacklick, OH, *74-77-151 +11
48. Allen Freeman (a), Brecksville, OH, *77-75-152 +12
48. Christopher Brown (a), Avon Lake, OH, *75-77-152 +12
48. Mark Guadagni (a), Hudson, OH, *74-78-152 +12
51. Dan Sutton, Holland, OH, *78-75-153 +13
51. Daniel Terry, Wadsworth, OH, *75-78-153 +13
53. Brian Smith (a), Amherst, OH, *77-77-154 +14
53. Scott Savage, Mount Vernon, OH, *75-79-154 +14
55. Brian Vincelette (a), Wadsworth, OH, *84-71-155 +15
55. Brian Belden (a), Canton, OH, *81-74-155 +15
55. Mike Riley (a), Akron, OH, *76-79-155 +15
55. Kurt Peterson (a), Massillon, OH, *75-80-155 +15
59. Jay Davis (a), Saint Clairsville, OH, *74-82-156 +16
59. Scott Loudon (a), N. Canton, OH, *77-79-156 +16
59. Ken Kinkopf (a), Dublin, OH, *76-80-156 +16
62. Brian Polick (a), Akron, OH, *80-77-157 +17
62. Nick Lambos (a), Canton, OH, *78-79-157 +17
62. Bob Stephens, Mason, OH, *76-81-157 +17
62. Dean Cutlip (a), Copley, OH, *76-81-157 +17
66. Brian Beebe (a), Uniontown, OH, *78-80-158 +18
67. John Connelly, Oregon, OH, *82-77-159 +19
67. Brian Bair (a), Clayton, OH, *82-77-159 +19
67. Eric Morgan, Sandusky, OH, *78-81-159 +19
70. Justin Long, Ravenna, OH, *83-77-160 +20
70. Derek Kesig (a), Delaware, OH, *78-82-160 +20
72. Brad Cavey, Medina, OH, *80-81-161 +21
72. Ronald Salerno, Broadview Hts, OH, *80-81-161 +21
72. Paul Krueger (a), Parma, OH, *80-81-161 +21
75. John Toth (a), Akron, OH, *82-80-162 +22
75. Tony Adcock, Canton, OH, *78-84-162 +22
75. Joe Foust, Toledo, OH, *78-84-162 +22
78. Michael Sweany (a), Massillon, OH, *77-86-163 +23
79. Tim Cotton (a), Centerville, OH, *78-86-164 +24
80. Edward Diebold (a), Coventry Township, OH, *83-82-165 +25
81. Eric Kulinna, Tiffin, OH, *84-82-166 +26
82. Glenn Johnson, Plain City, OH, *81-87-168 +28
83. Tony Stritenberger, Dayton, OH, *89-81-170 +30
83. Wayne Moler (a), Waterford, OH, *86-84-170 +30
85. Kevin O’Connell (a), Cleveland, OH, *91-82-173 +33
86. Allen Thigpen (a), Medina, OH, *83-91-174 +34
Senior Plus Results:
1. Larry King, Cincinnati, OH, *70-73-143 +3
2. Mark Borlin (a), Stow, OH, *68-76-144 +4
3. Jeffrey Knox (a), Boston Hts., OH, *71-74-145 +5
4. Jeff Semple (a), Canton, OH, *73-73-146 +6
4. Tim Krapfel, Galloway, OH, *73-73-146 +6
6. Doug Ganim (a), Westerville, OH, *72-75-147 +7
7. Terry Tyson (a), Perrysburg, OH, *72-77-149 +9
7. Mike Sowards (a), Batavia, OH, *73-76-149 +9
9. Todd Company, Avon, Ohio, *78-72-150 +10
9. Tom Laubacher (a), Aurora, OH, *74-76-150 +10
11. Scott Perry (a), Lowell, OH, *78-73-151 +11
11. Mike Cassell (a), Hudson, OH, *77-74-151 +11
11. Pat Delaney, Springfield, OH, *74-77-151 +11
11. Robert Jones (a), Dayton, OH, *74-77-151 +11
15. Alan Fadel (a), Perrysburg, OH, *75-78-153 +13
15. Tom Baugh (a), Akron, OH, *75-78-153 +13
17. John Jewell (a), Centerville, OH, *78-76-154 +14
17. Fred Gintert (a), Newton Falls, OH, *77-77-154 +14
17. Cal Wood (a), Athens, OH, *77-77-154 +14
20. Thomas Rehanek (a), Avon, OH, *77-78-155 +15
20. Scott Crooks (a), Norwalk, OH, *77-78-155 +15
20. Robert McCracken (a), Pickerington, OH, *73-82-155 +15
23. Mark Ciccarello (a), South euclid, OH, *79-77-156 +16
23. Edward Steiber (a), Cincinnati, OH, *79-77-156 +16
23. Mark Warden (a), Vincent, OH, *76-80-156 +16
23. Todd Larson (a), Columbus, OH, *76-80-156 +16
27. John Rodney (a), Kettering, OH, *78-80-158 +18
27. Douglas Fleming (a), Akron, OH, *78-80-158 +18
27. Lou Boarman (a), Mogadore, OH, *78-80-158 +18
27. John Martin, Deleware, OH, *77-81-158 +18
31. Clay Baker (a), Galena, OH, *81-78-159 +19
31. Gregg Matthus, Canton, OH, *75-84-159 +19
33. Curtis Cranmer (a), Waynesville, OH, *79-81-160 +20
33. Gregg Shawen (a), Kettering, OH, *85-75-160 +20
33. Raymond Najda (a), Olmsted Township, OH, *78-82-160 +20
33. Philip Russo (a), Cincinnati, OH, *75-85-160 +20
37. Beau Rugg (a), Hilliard, OH, *84-77-161 +21
37. Jack Pawelkoski, Dayton, OH, *77-84-161 +21
39. Roger Tolley (a), Willard, OH, *81-81-162 +22
40. Jim Davis (a), Westerville, OH, *84-80-164 +24
41. Peter Butler (a), Independence, OH, *81-84-165 +25
42. David Clarke (a), Saint Clairsville, OH, *84-89-173 +33
43. Mark Thaggard (a), Middleburg Heights, OH, *84-90-174 +34
44. Mark Boothby (a), Cincinnati, OH, *84-92-176 +36
45. Jeff Thompson (a), Cincinnati, OH, *90-87-177 +37
