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 site 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 his final round was not good enough to break into the top three champions but, in reality, his 79 paired with the 76 from Windmill gave him a final one-stroke lead, 155, over Derrick Benner of Mantua who carded rounds of 76-80 for a 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 May 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 compete in a County Division and an Open Division (golfers residing outside of Portage County), maintaining the integrity of the Amateur by crowning the best golfer in the event in the local county. Golfers can still compare their scores overall as 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 two-over-par 73 at Raccoon Hill to add to his 76 at Windmill Lakes for a one-stroke victory over Jason Moore of Cuyahoga Falls and Nathan Miller of Youngstown, each carding 150s.
Moore was low-man in the clubhouse for the final day, carding an even-par 71 to pair 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 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 at 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.
FINAL RESULTS:
96th Portage County Amateur Championship
Windmill Lakes Golf Course, Ravenna
Raccoon Hill Golf Club, Kent
Saturday, July 25 – Sunday, July 26, 2026
COUNTY DIVISION
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 DIVISION
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
WOMEN’S DIVISION
Hannah Higgins, North Canton 77-79 156
Sammy Morgan, North Benton 74-83 157
