Jarrod Page, Abbie Retherford, Gunnar McCollins claim titles at Portage County Amateur
Sunday's final round of the 92nd Portage County Amateur was exciting, as golfers moved up the leaderboard or held onto the top spots earned during Saturday's opening round at Windmill Lakes Golf Club in Ravenna.
For the second and final day of competition, the Amateur returned to Raccoon Hill Golf Club in Kent.
All three champions of the Women’s, Open and County Divisions were tied or held first place alone going into the second 18 holes.
Champions of each division were: Jarrod Page of Streetsboro, County Division; Abbie Retherford of Ravenna, Women’s Division; and Gunnar McCollins of Massillon, Open Division.
County Division
Jarrod Page is a familiar name to golf fans.
The champion of the County Division played for the Kent State Golden Flashes and worked at Kent State University Golf Course before regaining his Amateur status several years ago.
Page has played in the Amateur previously, but earned his first victory. He notched the win by beating two former champions in the final pairing, Rob Schustrich of Garrettsville and Bud Radis of Aurora.
Page’s back-to-back rounds of even-par bested Schustrich by one stroke,
Schustrich tied Page at even-par in the first round at Windmill. He was under-par for his first 18 holes until a four-putt on the final green left him tied with Page.
Page carded another even-par round at Raccoon, remaining steady to best Schustrich by one stroke on the final day.
Radis had fired a 72 at Windmill but struggled during the second day, adding a 76 to finish fourth at 148.
Ben Lansinger, a former Mogadore standout now entering his junior season on Malone University's golf team, put together a stunning round at Raccoon to finish third overall. He made the turn at 3-under par and maintained that score for the only under-par round in the County Division. He shot a first-round 77 to finish at 144.
Rounding out the top five was Luke Radis of Aurora, brother of Bud Radis, who lost to his brother by one stroke to give Bud Radis bragging rights.
Women's Division
Abbie Retherford competes on the varsity boys team for the Ravenna Ravens, and showed by last weekend.
The Women’s Division played more than 6,000 yards at both Raccoon Hill and Windmill Lakes. Retherford grabbed the lead on the first day and never looked back.
At Windmill, Retherford carded a 4-over-par 74 that cleared her nearest competitors by six strokes. She then added an 83 on Sunday for a total 157, nine strokes better than the field.
Retherford had a solid four days of tournament action, taking the runner-up spot in the Matt Mishler Junior Portage County Amateur on Thursday and Friday.
The field of women featured all Portage County standouts. Grace Thompson, successful golfer for the Kent Roosevelt Lady Riders who just completed her junior season at Walsh University, fired rounds of 80-85 for a 165.
Sydnie Leavery, a member of the Kent Roosevelt girls team that advanced to the Division I State Tournament last fall, tallied rounds of 80-86 for a 166 total and took third place before heading to La Salle University to compete for the Division I Explorers this fall.
Rounding out the top five was Devon Carpenter of Mogadore, who fired a two-day total of 193, and Samantha Miller of Streetsboro (197).
Carpenter was a solid golfer for the Field Falcons. Relatively new to golf, Carpenter still advanced to the Division II District tournament her senior year.
Miller was a member of the relatively new Streetsboro Rockets girls varsity golf team, and will enter her sophomore season at Muskingum University this fall.
Open Division
The only two-round score under-par in the entire field at the Portage County Amateur was fired by Gunnar McCollins of Massillon, who is entering his senior year at Cleveland State University.
McCollins carded a 71 at Windmill to tie for the lead with Blake Hood of Alliance.
At Raccoon, McCollins left the field behind as he fired a 2-under-par 69 for a 140 total that bested Chris Okeson of Beachwood by six strokes and multiple-time champion Brian Smith of Oberlin by eight strokes. McCollins' round included seven birdies.
Mike Ritichey, a former Crestwood varsity golf coach who now lives in Cleveland, took home fourth after climbing the leaderboard with second-round of 71.
Hood struggled at Raccoon but still managed to tie Ritchey, finishing in fifth via a scorecard playoff.
Mark Your Calendars
Next up for the 2022 Portage County Amateurs is the 52nd Portage County Senior Amateur, scheduled for Aug. 27 at Raccoon Hill and Aug. 28 at Windmill Lakes.
Four divisions include: age 50-plus, 60-plus, 70-plus and women 50 and over.
The 93rd Portage County Amateur is scheduled to compete July 29-30 at Windmill and Raccoon Hill.
92nd Portage County Amateur
Final Results
COUNTY DIVISION
Jarrod Page, Streetsboro 70-71 141. Rob Schustrich, Garrettsville 70-72 142. Ben Lansinger, Mogadore 77-67 144. Bud Radis, Aurora 72-76 148. Luke Radis, Aurora 75-74 149. Jeremy Knight, Streetsboro 77-74 151. Carter Troyer, Kent 78-74 152. Spencer Crone, Ravenna 76-77 153. Evan Ferrara, Ravenna 76-77 153. Randy Wilburn, Deerfield 77-79 156. Laszlo May, Rootstown 81-78 159. Blaze Tanner, Aurora 76-84 160. Casey Troyer, Kent 80-80 161. Russell Shaffer, Rootstown 87-74 161. Ed Marsinek, Shalersville 79-82 161. Anthony Marozzi, Ravenna 80-85 165. Bryan Keyser, Atwater 82-84 166. Mark Mitchell, Ravenna 82-85 167. Garrison Rose, Garrettsville 85-86 171. Travis Stein, Mogadore 83-90 173. Evan Dalziel, Kent 85-88 173. Ben Jenior, Rootstown 82-92 174. Bailey Campbell, Suffield 85-91 176. Vince Fortney, Garrettsville 95-87 182. Brendon Osborne, Mantua 93-94 187. Eric Ernsberger, Diamond 103-91194. Aaron Snyder, Garrettsville 101-95 196.
WOMEN
Abbie Retherford, Ravenna 74-83 157. Grace Thompson, Kent 80-85 165. Sydnie Leavery, Kent 80-86 166. Devon Carpenter, Mogadore 88-105 193. Samantha Miller, Streetsboro 94-103 197.
OPEN
Gunnar McCollins, Massillon 71-69 140. Chris Okeson, Beachwood 74-72 146. Brian Smith, Oberlin 73-75 148. Mike Ritchey, Cleveland 80-71 151. Blake Hood, Alliance 71-80 151. Ben Cowan, Orange 78-76 154. Toby Matson, Grove City (Pa.) 77-77 154. Reed Anderson, Upper Arlington 77-78 155. Cole Christman, Boardman 77-79 156. Bryce Hood, Alliance 76-80 156. Reece Ziegler, Bucyrus 82-77 159. Luke Schreck, Seville 86-74 160. Matt Hairston, Cleveland 81-81 162. Spencer Sizemore, Hudson 83-80 163. Josh Gealy, Stow 88-85 173. James Wilcox, Youngstown 96-87 183.
This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: The 92nd Portage County Amateur golf tournament was held last weekend
