After five weeks of competition across all of Cleveland Metroparks 18-hole golf courses, the qualifying players for the 2025 Greater Cleveland Amateur Championship (GCAC) have been solidified.
Now in its 33rd year, a few new elements of the tournament will be introduced.
Highlighting this year’s qualifiers are 2024 GCAC champion Lucas Liberatore, who looks to be the third consecutive participant to go back-to-back equaling the recent championship runs of Vaughn Snyder (2020/2021) and Antonio Bodiony (2022/2023). Only the late great Norton Brick achieved a 3-peat during his reign (2000-2002).
Liberatore also holds the lead in the Player of the Year rankings, ahead of Ryan Stefanski, Rich Deichert, and Chris Okeson.
Course champions Steve Schiegenberg (Ironwood), Jake Morgan (Manakiki), Luke Liberatore (Big Met), Ben Farina (Shawnee Hills), Harrison Vanderau (Sleepy Hollow) and Chris Okeson (Seneca) are the first invitations to the GCAC. Also, Phil Latsko (Senior GCAC), Andrew Malkus and Carter Woodward (Ironman at Ironwood Co-Champions) have qualified to compete in this year’s GCAC by virtue of winning an individual Cleveland Metroparks Player of the Year event.
In addition to these tournament champions, the top 15% of non-exempt participants at each of the Cleveland Metroparks Course Championships have been invited to compete. Visit clevelandmetroparks.com/golf to view a complete list of results from each tournament as well as the exemption list and POY standings.
For the first time in the history of the Greater Cleveland Amateur Championship, the contest will welcome an estimated field of 70 golfers to compete at the Cleveland Metroparks two premier golf courses: Manakiki Golf Course in Willoughby Hills and Sleepy Hollow Golf Course in Brecksville. Half the field will be cut after 36-holes before play resumes on Sunday at Manakiki.
Amateur tournament golf continues to thrive at the Cleveland Metroparks. Since adding Ironwood to the championship rotation in 2025, a record 315 golfers participated in a Course Championship, while 114 competed in the Senior GCAC. In its third year, the Match Play Championship at Shawnee Hills again reached capacity, as did the two-player events at Manakiki and Sleepy Hollow with their sold-out fields.
Email invitations have been sent to previously exempt players and those who qualified at one of the 2025 Player of the Year Events. If you need additional information about entry into the Cleveland Am, please reach out to Geoff Koller (gdk@clevelandmetroparks.com) or Ben Ladaika (bl1@clevelandmetroparks.com).
The Cleveland Metroparks Golf Staff would like to thank everyone who supports our Player of the Year series and the family fun events. We look forward to seeing everyone August 8-10, and watching who will raise the John Fiander Cup for winning the Cleveland Amateur Championship in 2025.
