Fresh off yet another Southern Ohio PGA victory, Bob Sowards was asked how many times he has won the SOPGA New Albany Classic at New Albany Country Club.
“A lot” was his perfectly understated — and absolutely epic — response.
Sowards delivered another bogey-free round in 2025, carding a symmetrical six-under 66 with three birdies on each side. His tidy performance edged Michael Auterson by a single shot.
With this win, Sowards has now claimed the New Albany Classic five times in the last decade, including last year, and has yet to finish outside the top 10 in the event.
The victory also marks Sowards’ second win in just a few weeks, following his win at the SOPGA Stableford Championship at Dayton Country Club earlier this month. It’s the latest highlight in a remarkable run of form dating back to last year, when he rattled off three straight victories, including the 79th Southern Ohio PGA Section Championship.
A few numbers to put his dominance into perspective:
• Sowards has finished outside the top 20 just once in the past 10 years on the SOPGA circuit (T21 at the 2024 Springfield Classic).
• In that same stretch, he has collected more than 32 victories.
• His 2025 scoring average sits nearly a full stroke under par.
All of this leads perfectly into next week’s SOPGA Senior Professional Championship, an event Sowards has won six times over the last seven years.
Behind Sowards, Auterson finished solo second. Andy Montgomery, Griffin Mitchell, and Chris Muse shared third, while David Podrasky closed eagle-par-birdie to vault into sixth place alone. Chase Wilson and Jared Jones tied for seventh, with Taylor Holt and Derrick DeHart rounding out the top 10.
Griffin Mitchell won the Associate Division with his 3-under 69.
FINAL RESULTS: Southern Ohio PGA
2025 SOPGA New Albany Classic
New Albany Country Club, New Albany, OH
Tuesday, September 2, 2025
Blue Golf Hole-by-Hole Results >
1 Bob Sowards, Dublin, OH, Kinsale Golf & Fitness Club 66
2 Michael Auterson, Loveland, Hickory Woods Golf Course 67
T3 Andy Montgomery, Dublin, Ohio, Kinsale Golf & Fitness Club 69
T3 Griffin Mitchell, New Albany, OH, The Golf Depot At Central Park 69
T3 Chris Muse, Columbus, Ohio, Hickory Hills Golf Club 69
6 David Podrasky, Sunbury, OH, GOLFTEC – Dublin 70
T7 Chase Wilson, Newark, OH, Columbus Country Club 71
T7 Jared Jones, Dublin, OH, Scioto Country Club 71
T9 Taylor Holt, Columbus, OH, The Lakes Golf & Country Club 72
T9 Derrick DeHart, Milford, OH, Dayton Country Club 72
T11 Chris Black, Lancaster, OH, The View 73
T11 Jon Balyeat, Cincinnati, OH, Kenwood Country Club 73
T11 Brad Loomis, Harrison, Miami View Golf Club 73
T11 Hunter Miller, Loveland, OH, Losantiville Country Club 73
T11 Jared Hoelzen, Dublin, OH, Scioto Country Club 73
T11 Joe Moore, Englewood, OH, Beavercreek Golf Club 73
T17 Michael Mayhugh, Delaware, OH, Topgolf – Columbus 74
T17 Sam Arnold, Cincinnati, Vineyard Golf Course 74
T19 Andrew Martin, Columbus, OH, Muirfield Village Golf Club 75
T19 Jeff Olson, Delaware, OH, Wedgewood Golf & Country Club 75
T19 Cam Wolfe, Dublin, OH, Heritage Golf Club 75
T19 Daniel Sorgini, Pickerington, OH, Blacklick Woods Hills 75
T19 Richard Denny, Miamisburg, OH, Jamaica Run Golf Club 75
T19 Ben Kern, South Bloomfield, OH, Hickory Hills Golf Club 75
T25 Christian Hayden, Newark, Granville Golf Land 76
T25 Carter Cheek, Cary, NC, Muirfield Village Golf Club 76
T25 Trent Kopala, Grove City, OH, GOLFTEC – Dublin 76
T28 Adam Taulbee, Cincinnati, OH, Elks Run Golf Club 77
T28 Drew Muhich, Cincinnati, OH, The Golf Club at Stonelick Hills 77
T30 David Wetterich, Cincinnati, OH, Wittenberg University 78
T30 Jon McDonald, Troy, OH, Sycamore Creek Country Club 78
T30 Mitchell Creamer, Columbus, OH, Tartan Fields Golf Club 78
T30 Taylor Suggs, Cincinnati, OH, Heritage Club 78
T34 Chad Ammer, Cincinnati, OH, Maketewah Country Club 79
T34 Mike Kaido, Zanesville, OH, Zanesville Country Club 79
T34 Peter Dornisch, Powell, OH, Muirfield Village Golf Club 79
T34 Dan Halley, Lewis Center, OH, GOLFTEC – Dublin 79
T38 Steven Klick, Springboro, OH, Beavercreek Golf Club 80
T38 Paul Macke, Cincinnati, OH, PM Golf Lounge 80
T38 Doug Wade, Maineville, Ohio, Off-Par Golf & Social 80
T38 Chad Middaugh, Powell, OH, Muirfield Village Golf Club 80
T38 Melissa Yeazell, West Chester, OH, Tri County Golf Ranch 80
T38 Casey Lewis, Miamisburg, OH, Sycamore Creek Country Club 80
T44 Max Helgreen, Powell, OH, Kinsale Golf & Fitness Club 81
T44 Mike Stills, Westerville Ohio, Jefferson Golf & Country Club 81
T44 Austin Schoonmaker, Miamisburg, OH, Golfweek Junior Tour 81
T47 Bryce Twente, Gahanna, OH, New Albany Country Club – North/East 82
T47 Corey Weckerling, Dayton, OH, Moraine Country Club 82
49 Sonny Rinala, Cincinnati, OH, Heritage Club 85
WD Alex Martin, Liberty Twp., OH, Golfweek Junior Tour WD
