On Wednesday, October 22 and Thursday, October 23, two teams of 12 Northern Ohio Golf Association players will head to The Country Club in Pepper Pike to compete in the fifth edition of the Lewis Cup, a season-ending team match play event named after Warren-native Bob Lewis, a nationally-recognized and highly-accomplished player, coach and Walker Cupper.
Those two NOGA teams are made up of the highest Player of the Year points winners available for the competition in Amateur and Senior Divisions. The captain for each team is the reigning Player of the Year.
The Lewis Cup format: on Day 1, nine hole Four-Ball matches then nine hole Foursomes matches; on Day 2, 12 individual 18-hole Singles Matches.
PAST LEWIS CUP RESULTS
The Amateur Team currently holds a 3-1 lead in victories over the Senior Team in the annual matches, although the 2022 and 2024 contests were both 1-point nail-biters.
2024: Amateurs 12.5 points, Seniors 11.5 points. Tied after Four-Ball and Foursomes, an incredibly close contest that went right down to the very last matches in Singles. 2024 RECAP >
2023: Amateurs 13.5 points, Seniors 10.5 points. The Amateurs won due to an early beat-down, taking a 5-1 lead in the first Four-Ball session that the Senior Team could not overcome. 2023 RECAP >
2022: Amateurs 12.5, Seniors 11.5. The Amateurs took a 1-point lead in the Foursomes session, and that was the difference as the Four-Ball and Individual matches finished tied. 2022 RECAP >
2021: Seniors 15, Amateurs 9. The Seniors won the first playing of the Lewis Cup in a blowout, with a strong team that never allowed the Amateurs to build any momentum whatsoever. 2021 RECAP >
A Temporary Venue
The home of the Lewis Cup is Westfield Country Club, a fantastic facility with its two dynamically different golf courses providing a perfect site for the 36-hole, three-session Cup format. But Westfield is undergoing a major clubhouse renovation in 2025, and management asked that another host be found for this year.
Tournament Director Sean Croell came up big in seeking out that replacement, as The Country Club, which consistently ranks on the Top-100 courses lists, graciously agreed to host this year’s edition of the Lewis Cup. The Pepper Pike property recently completed a major bunker renovation, making the course even better. The Country Club will provide a great test for the 2025 matches, and an enjoyable season-ending reward for the players competing.
The Lewis Cup matches are expected to return to Westfield Country Club in 2026.
2025 Rosters: Meet the Players
The players of the Lewis Cup teams are invited by finish position from that year’s NOGA Player of the Year points list.
On paper, the Amateur Team again has a stronger roster than the Senior Team — but as the cliché goes, contests aren’t played on paper.
Especially painful for this year’s Senior Team is the loss of two-time NOGA Senior Player of the Year Rob Schustrich, who just underwent shoulder surgery. Schustrich will still be on hand at The Country Club to act as the captain of the Senior Team, but his strong play surely will be missed. Vaughn Snyder is captain for the Amateur Team.
Out of town for this year’s Cup dates, the Senior Team will also be without Tom Laubacher and Kurt Peterson from its POY points list, making for three significant players not available to the Seniors. The Amateur Team is without two-time NOGA Player of the Year Chris Okeson from its automatic POY invitees.
The rosters for each team, listed in order of finish on the 2025 NOGA Great Lakes Auto Player of the Year points list:
2025 NOGA Amateur Team
Vaughn Snyder – Captain / NOGA Player of the Year
Hometown: Canton
Club: Shady Hollow Country Club
Handicap Index: +2.3
Top 2025 Finishes:
WIN: Cleveland Amateur
3rd: Northeast Ohio Amateur
3rd: Summit County Amateur
T3: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Tour Championship
Lewis Cup Record:
Singles: 0-0-1; Four-Ball: 0-1-0; Foursomes: 1-0-0; TOTAL: 1-1-1
Brian Smith
Hometown: Amherst
Club: Oberlin Golf Club
Handicap Index: +3.3
Top 2025 Finishes:
WIN: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Alternate Shot
WIN: U.S. Mid-Amateur Qualifier
5th: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Four-Ball #2
Lewis Cup Record:
Singles: 1-2-1; Four-Ball: 2-2-0; Foursomes: 2-0-2; TOTAL: 5-4-3
Lucas Liberatore
Hometown: Fairview Park
Club: Big Met Golf Course
Handicap Index: +1.7
Top 2025 Finishes:
WIN: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Four-Ball Match Play
2nd: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Tour Championship
T3: Stark County Amateur
T4: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Stroke Play #4
Lewis Cup Record:
First Time Competitor in 2025
Rick Deichert
Hometown: Shaker Heights
Club: Canterbury Golf Club
Handicap Index: +3.1
Top 2025 Finishes:
2nd: Cleveland Amateur
T3: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Tour Championship
3rd: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Alternate Shot
T4: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Four-Ball #1
Lewis Cup Record:
Singles: 0-1-0; Four-Ball: 0-0-1; Foursomes: 0-1-0; TOTAL: 0-2-1
Ian Hardesty
Hometown: Kent
Club: Barrington Golf Club
Handicap Index: +4.4
Top 2025 Finishes:
WIN: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Tour Championship
T1: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Stroke Play #3
2nd: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Alternate Shot
T2: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Four-Ball #1
Lewis Cup Record:
Singles: 1-0-0; Four-Ball: 1-0-0; Foursomes: 0-1-0; TOTAL: 2-1-0
Jack Garswood
Hometown: Fairview Park
Club: USGA/NOGA
Handicap Index: +2.5
Top 2025 Finishes:
T1: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Stroke Play #4
T1: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Four-Ball #2
T5: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Stroke Play #2
Lewis Cup Record:
Singles: 0-0-1; Four-Ball: 1-0-0; Foursomes: 0-1-0; TOTAL: 1-1-1
Ben Hogan
Hometown: Wellington
Club: Oberlin Golf Club
Handicap Index: +3.1
Top 2025 Finishes:
T3: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Stroke Play #3
T3: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Four-Ball #2
T4: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Stroke Play #4
Lewis Cup Record:
Singles: 2-1-0; Four-Ball: 2-1-0; Foursomes: 2-0-1; TOTAL: 6-2-1
Christopher Brown
Hometown: Avon Lake
Club: Lakewood Country Club
Handicap Index: +3.8
Top 2025 Finishes:
WIN: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Alternate Shot
T3: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Tour Championship
T3: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Stroke Play #1
5th: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Stroke Play #3
5th: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Four-Ball #2
Lewis Cup Record:
Singles: 1-0-0; Four-Ball: 1-0-0; Foursomes: 0-1-0; TOTAL: 2-1-0
Colin Burns
Hometown: Lakewood
Club: USGA/NOGA
Handicap Index: +1.8
Top 2025 Finishes:
T1: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Stroke Play #4
2nd: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Stroke Play #1
3rd: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Alternate Shot
3rd: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Stroke Play #2
Lewis Cup Record:
First Time Competitor in 2025
Shaun Kloetzer
Hometown: Fairlawn
Club: USGA/NOGA
Handicap Index: +1.2
Top 2025 Finishes:
T3: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Stroke Play #1
Lewis Cup Record:
Singles: 3-0-0; Four-Ball: 1-2-0; Foursomes: 1-2-0; TOTAL: 5-4-0
Andrew Grayson
Hometown: Medina
Club: Weymouth & Fox Meadow CC
Handicap Index: +1.6
Top 2025 Finishes:
T1: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Four-Ball #2
T5: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Stroke Play #1
Lewis Cup Record:
Singles: 0-2-1; Four-Ball: 3-0-0; Foursomes: 2-1-0; TOTAL: 5-3-1
Andrew Malkus
Hometown: Maple Heights
Club: USGA/NOGA
Handicap Index: +0.8
Top 2025 Finishes:
2nd: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Alternate Shot
T2: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Four-Ball #1
4th: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Stroke Play #2
Lewis Cup Record:
Singles: 3-0-0; Four-Ball: 1-2-0; Foursomes: 0-2-1; TOTAL: 4-4-1
2025 NOGA Senior Team
Rob Schustrich – Non-Playing Captain / NOGA Senior POY
Hometown: Windham
Club: Trumbull Country Club
Handicap Index: +1.6
Top 2025 Finishes:
WIN: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Stroke Play #1
WIN: Senior Summit County Amateur
2nd: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Alternate Shot
3rd: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Tour Championship
T3: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Four-Ball #1
Lewis Cup Record:
Singles: 3-1-0; Four-Ball: 2-2-0; Foursomes: 1-2-1; TOTAL: 6-5-1
Allen Freeman
Hometown: Brecksville
Club: USGA/NOGA
Handicap Index: 0.4
Top 2025 Finishes:
WIN: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Stroke Play #3
3rd: Senior Summit County Amateur
T3: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Stroke Play #4
T3: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Alternate Shot
5th: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Four-Ball #2
Lewis Cup Record:
Singles: 2-2-0; Four-Ball: 2-2-0; Foursomes: 1-2-1; TOTAL: 5-6-1
Howard Clendenin
Hometown: Fairlawn
Club: Firestone Country Club
Handicap Index: +4.2
Top 2025 Finishes:
WIN: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Tour Championship
WIN: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Alternate Shot
WIN: Senior Northeast Ohio Amateur
WIN: Senior Stark County Amateur
Lewis Cup Record:
Singles: 1-0-0; Four-Ball: 1-0-0; Foursomes: 1-0-0; TOTAL: 3-0-0
Mark Borlin
Hometown: Stow
Club: Silver Lake Country Club
Handicap Index: +0.3
Top 2025 Finishes:
T3: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Stroke Play #4
T3: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Alternate Shot
T3: Senior Cleveland Amateur
T4: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Tour Championship
5th: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Four-Ball #2
Lewis Cup Record:
Singles: 0-3-1; Four-Ball: 2-2-0; Foursomes: 1-2-1; TOTAL: 3-7-2
Jeff Semple
Hometown: Canton
Club: Firestone Country Club
Handicap Index: +1.9
Top 2025 Finishes:
WIN: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Alternate Shot
T1: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Four-Ball #1
2nd: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Tour Championship
5th: Senior Stark County Amateur
Lewis Cup Record:
First Time Competitor in 2025
Mike Belacic
Hometown: Akron
Club: Firestone Country Club
Handicap Index: 0.8
Top 2025 Finishes:
2nd: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Four-Ball #2
T2: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Stroke Play #2
T3: Stroke Play #4
5th: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Alternate Shot
Lewis Cup Record:
Singles: 0-1-1; Four-Ball: 1-1-0; Foursomes: 0-1-1; TOTAL: 1-3-2
Greg Myers
Hometown: Twinsburg
Club: Club Walden
Handicap Index: 1.0
Top 2025 Finishes:
T1: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Stroke Play #4
2nd: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Alternate Shot
T3: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Four-Ball #1
Lewis Cup Record:
First Time Competitor in 2025
Dean Cutlip
Hometown: Copley
Club: Firestone Country Club
Handicap Index: 2.0
Top 2025 Finishes:
2nd: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Stroke Play #3
3rd: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Four-Ball #2
T3: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Alternate Shot
Lewis Cup Record:
Singles: 1-2-0; Four-Ball: 0-3-0; Foursomes: 2-1-0; TOTAL: 3-6-0
David Trier
Hometown: Stow
Club: Firestone Country Club
Handicap Index: 0.4
Top 2025 Finishes:
T2: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Stroke Play #2
3rd: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Four-Ball #2
T3: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Alternate Shot
T3 Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Stroke Play #3
Lewis Cup Record:
Singles: 2-0-0; Four-Ball: 0-2-0; Foursomes: 2-0-0; TOTAL: 4-2-0
Paul Krueger
Hometown: Parma
Club: Sleepy Hollow Golf Course
Handicap Index: 2.0
Top 2025 Finishes:
T1: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Stroke Play #4
T2: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Stroke Play #1
T3: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Stroke Play #3
Lewis Cup Record:
First Time Competitor in 2025
Tom Baugh
Hometown: Akron
Club: Portage Country Club
Handicap Index: 2.3
Top 2025 Finishes:
T2: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Stroke Play #1
4th: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Four-Ball #2
T5: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Four-Ball #1
Lewis Cup Record:
Singles: 2-1-0; Four-Ball: 1-2-0; Foursomes: 1-2-0; TOTAL: 4-5-0
John Toth
Hometown: Akron
Club: Turkeyfoot Lakes Golf Links
Handicap Index: 2.6
Top 2025 Finishes:
T3: Scratch Stroke Play #3
Lewis Cup Record:
Singles: 0-1-0; Four-Ball: 0-1-0; Foursomes: 0-1-0; TOTAL: 0-3-0
Mark Guadagni
Hometown: Hudson
Club: Silver Lake Country Club
Handicap Index: 1.1
Top 2025 Finishes:
T6: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Stroke Play #2
T6: Great Lakes Auto Scratch Series: Stroke Play #3
Lewis Cup Record:
Singles: 1-1-1; Four-Ball: 2-1-0; Foursomes: 2-0-1; TOTAL: 5-2-2
MORE ABOUT BOB LEWIS
Bob Lewis competed in 31 USGA championships, highlighted by three runner-up finishes in the 1980 U.S. Am and the 1981 and 1984 U.S. Mid-Ams. He also competed in three U.S. Opens and seven Masters Tournaments, earning low-amateur honors in the 1987 Masters.
He played in four Walker Cup Matches, then captained two more.
After retiring from competition, he volunteered for many years as the head golf coach at Gilmour Academy in Gates Mills.
Lewis passed away in the spring of 2021, shortly after receiving the Bob Jones Award, the USGA’s highest honor.
— player roster bio information by Seamus Hough, NOGA
