The final day of the 56th Portage County Senior Amateur featured outstanding competition, two under-par rounds, and moves up the leaderboard as champions were crowned in three divisions.
Rain had threatened early in the day, but the weather was not a factor as Windmill Lakes Golf Course was beautiful, and it turned out to be a perfect day for golf.
At the end of the day, Eric Coven (Senior Division) and Dave Peck (Gold Division) held onto their early leads at Windmill to capture the championships, and Mike Rezabek (Platinum Division) moved up the leaderboard to win the Platinum Division.
GOLD DIVISION (60-69)
Dave Peck of Macedonia and Rob Schustrich were only one stroke apart heading into the final round at Windmill Lakes as Peck had fired a 72 at Raccoon Hill and Schustrich a 73.
At Windmill, the battle continued as Peck and Schustrich shot their way around Windmill to near-perfect rounds of identical 67s, remaining one stroke apart as Peck captured the championship and successfully defended his victory of 2026.
Peck and Schustrich’s rounds of golf were a clinic of how to play Windmill Lakes.
Earning third place was Rob Button of Westlake, firing a 75 at Raccoon and concluding his two-day total with a 149 after firing a 74 at Windmill.
Doug Lockwood made a giant move up the leaderboard on the second day. The golfer from Powell had carded a 79 at Raccoon Hill but moved into fourth place after scoring a one-over-par 71 at Windmill Lakes.
PLATINUM DIVISION (70+)
Mike Rezabek of Ravenna moved up the leaderboard to win the championship, firing a 71 to add to his 74 at Raccoon Hill for a 145 that bested defending champion Jim Herchek of Chagrin Falls by two strokes.
Herchek was in the lead after Saturday’s round (71) and added a 74 at Windmill to win the runner-up spot in the oldest division.
Paul Trenta also moved up the leaderboard, carding a 71 at Windmill to add to his 78 at Raccoon Hill.
Trenta, of Hartville, shot a one-over-par 71 for the 149 total that landed him in third place after finishing in sixth place on day one of the competition.
SENIOR DIVISION (50-59)
Eric Coven of Brunswick was one of the last golfers to enter the Portage County Senior Amateur. Coven was looking for a competitive tournament to play over the weekend when he didn’t make the finals of his traveling league.
Well, he found what he was looking for as he won the Senior Division, firing 77 and 76 for a total of 153, which was two strokes ahead of Dove Fall of Windham (78-77, 155).
Coven was tied with Scott Loudon of Canton on the first day, and Loudon fired a 78 on Sunday to finish in third place.
The top four places, which included Bobby Wadsworth of Uniontown, were only separated by six strokes, a solid competition.
THE AMATEUR (on a personal note)…
For this writer and tournament director, the Senior Amateur is a wonderful competition. Everyone encourages each other to play better and enjoy the round.
Senior golfers sit and wait for fellow golfers they haven’t seen since the last Senior Amateur, find out what tournaments golfers are headed to next, and make plans for the next season.
There is some talk of illnesses they have had, the success of grandkids they continue to play golf with, and golf throughout the season, but the Senior Amateur is the best of golf. Golfers are simply loving the game as well as the competition.
I can’t wait to see all of these golfers who return year after year for this tournament, and I am already looking forward to next summer.
FINAL RESULTS:
56th Portage County Senior Amateur Championship
Raccoon Hill Golf Club, Kent
Windmill Lakes Golf Course, Ravenna
Saturday, August 29 – Sunday, August 30, 2026
SENIOR DIVISION (50-59)
Eric Coven, Brunswick 77-76 153
Dove Fall, Windham 78-77 155
Scott Loudon, Canton 77-78-155
Bobby Wadsworth, 78-81 159
Rick Bower, Rootstown 97-88 184
Eric Ernsberger, Ravenna 92-101 194
GOLD DIVISION (60-69)
Dave Peck, Macedonia 72-67 139
Rob Schustrich, Windham 73-67 140
Rob Button, Westlake 75-74 149
Doug Lockwood, Powell 79-71 150
Chris Minear, Akron 76-76 152
Jeff Luken, Middleburg Hts 76-76 152
Jack Pico, Warren 80-75 155
Dave Stover, Pepper Pike 82-74 156
Randy Wilburn, Deerfield 82-74 156
Ray McNiece, Cleveland 83-74 157
Gary Congin, Chesterland 79-79 158
Ron Rositani, Willowick 80-81 161
John Sales, Canton 85-77 162
Steve DeBolt, Newton Falls 82-81 163
Ed Marsinek, Shalersville 85-84 169
Mike Marsinek, Streetsboro 94-86 180
PLATINUM DIVISION (70+)
Mike Rezabek, Ravenna 74-71 145
Jim Herchek, Chagrin Falls 71-76 147
Paul Trenta, Hartville 78-71 149
Dan Ledenican, Aurora 75-74 149
Steve Bedell, Brecksville 80-72 152
Robert Gintert, Newton Falls 75-78 152
Edward Saltis, Streetsboro 91-97 188
