Tradition has been upheld when the Northern Ohio Professional Golfers Association announced that a large field of 140 players has entered the 40th Ohio Senior Open to be played at Firestone Country Club, May 28-29.
The most prestigious tournament for Ohio senior professionals and amateurs will be conducted over Firestone’s Fazio Course for the 23rd consecutive year and for the 28th time in the event’s 40-year existence.
The Ohio Senior Open is the first of 13 major events on the 2025 NOPGA schedule and one of approximately 100 events for professionals and amateurs of all ages and genders conducted by the NOPGA between January and November.
Competition in the Senior Open will be held in two divisions over 36 holes. Players between the ages of 50-59 will play in the Regular Division. Those 60-and-over are in the Senior Plus Division.
NOPGA Director of Competitions Matt Rutland, PGA said the field will include 57 professionals and 82 amateurs who meet all qualification requirements.
Amateur Bob Spino, of nearby New Franklin, is the reigning champion in the Regular Division and Pat Delaney, head professional at Reid Park Golf Course in Springfield, is reigning champ in the Senior Plus. In a rain-shortened event Spino shot 31-36=67 (3-under) and Delaney went 2-under 35-33=68 to win.
Spino’s triumph snapped an impressive streak by Dublin’s Bob Sowards, who is the event’s all-time leading winner with five consecutive victories starting in 2019.
FOR THE FIRST TIME: The champion of the 2025 Ohio Senior Open (Regular Division) will earn an exclusive exemption to the Final Stage of 2026 U.S. Senior Open Qualifying. With the U.S. Senior Open now featuring a two-stage qualifying process, this perk allows the winner to bypass the first stage, bringing them one step closer to competing in one of the most prestigious senior championships in golf. According to the United States Golf Association, the 2026 Senior Open will be played at Scioto Country Club in Columbus, July 2-5.
40th OHIO SENIOR OPEN FACT BOX
WHAT: 40th Ohio Senior Open Championship
WHEN: May 28-29, 2025
WHERE: Fazio Course, Firestone Country Club, 452 E. Warner Rd., Akron.
TITLE SPONSORS: Michelob Ultra, ForeverLawn, Invited Clubs.
THE FIELD: Maximum of 144 players.
THE DIVISIONS: Championship Division for players aged 50-to-59; Senior Plus for players 60-and-over.
THE FORMAT: 36 holes, stroke play. No cut.
THE FAZIO COURSE: The Tom Fazio design will play to 6,469 yards with a par of 35-35=70. The Senior Plus entrants will play from the Hybrid tees to 6,095 yards and also a par of 70.
REIGNING CHAMPIONS: Bob Spino (New Franklin) shot 3-under 31-36=67 to win the Senior Division; Pat Delaney (Springfield) shot 2-under 35-33=68 to win the Senior Plus.
SOME HISTORY: The Ohio Senior Open has been played on Firestone’s Fazio Course – formerly the West Course — every year since 2003 and for the 28th time since the inaugural event in 1986. Plum Brook Country Club in Sandusky played host to the first six Opens, Ashland Country Club played host from 1992-1995 and Ohio Prestwick Country Club in Uniontown was the site in 2001 and 2002. The West Course was renamed after the famed designer for the 2020 Senior Open.
CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS: Dublin’s Bob Sowards, regarded as one of the top professionals in Ohio regardless of age, owns the record of having won five consecutive titles from 2019-2023. Sowards, 56, is entered in this year’s Open.
EIGHT NOT ENOUGH: Eight men have won more than one Senior Open Championship. In addition to Bob Sowards they are: Gary Robison (2004, 2010, 2015, 2018); Jim Logue (1993-1995); Gary Trivisonno (2008 & 2011); Tom Herzan (2006-2007); Bryan Abbott (1997, 1998, 2000); Larry King (2003 & 2012) and Dick Plummer (1990 & 1992). As a side note, Robison and Trivisonno own three runner-up finishes as well. Robison finished second in 2005, 2006 and 2008 and Trivisonno was second in 2007, 2012 and 2016.
