ZDGA Seniors: Baker leading, but it's close
SOUTH ZANESVILLE — Another solid round from Brad Baker led to another chance to add more hardware on Sunday.
He's got some company, however.
Baker, aiming for his sixth straight Zanesville District Golf Association Seniors title, carries a two-shot lead into the final round over Troy Frazee and a three-shot lead over Rich Bubenchik following an even-par 70 in Saturday's second round at EagleSticks.
Baker, a Warsaw native and River View grad, is bidding to become the first player in any ZDGA event to win six consecutive times. Hall of Famer Scott Cope won five Amateurs from 1984-88.
Tom Crowley matched Baker and Frazee's 70 on Saturday and were topped only by Chris Luthi, who followed a first-round 85 with a 1-under 69 that included six birdies. Bubenchik, a perennial contender still seeking a championship breakthrough, shook off an early double bogey to shoot 71.
Baker is at 140, Frazee 142 and Bubenchik 143, while Kevin Terry shot 72 on Saturday and is alone in fourth at 148. Crowley (149) and Todd Hixson (78-73 — 151) round out the top six.
Bubenchik is no stranger to chasing Baker. He has done it much of the past decade since the latter became Senior-eligible in 2017. Now another strong player in Frazee is also in the mix.
Bubenchik and Frazee are bidding to be the first players other than Baker and Jim Spargrove, who won in 2015 and 2016, to win the Seniors since Russ Hull won in 2014.
"I always look forward to playing there because it's in great shape," Bubenchik said of ZCC. "I think if stick to my plan I will be okay, and if it falls it falls. I've shot 66 there before from the same tee boxes in this tournament, and came back, and finished second again. If I hit the ball well I'll be alright."
Luthi said he was aided by a better comfort level with his playing partners on Day 2. He lamented some missed chances on the front nine that could have allowed him to go even lower on the scorecard, but was anything but complaining.
"The course was great and the competition was great," said Luthi, a former U.S. Marine. "I pour concrete for a living, I'm not a golfer. The course was set up nice and the greens were nice. I played well."
He credited his fast start to his playing partners, but added the shorter setup of the course likely favored him as a longer hitter. He also enjoyed a good day with the putter, as evidenced by three straight birdies on holes 5-7 and two more on the back nine.
"Like I said, I pour concrete, I'm not a professional golfer," Luthi said. "It depends on the attitudes of the people I am with, stuff like that, more than anything. It's not my ability. It's how I get started and how I jell with the people I playing with."
It's even tighter in the 65-and-older Super Senior Division, where Dave Kennedy (145) fired a second-round 71 to open up a five-shot lead over former champion Jim Spargrove. The latter followed a 76 with a 74 that left him at 150.
James Hatcher (78-74 — 152) and Dick McPeck (74-78 — 152) are seven shots back and Mark Ballmer (81-73 — 154) and Dave Sheppard (83-72 —155) are also in striking distance.
The top 11 Seniors and top 10 Super Seniors advanced to the final round. Tee times begin at 11 a.m.
sblackbu@gannett.com; Twitter: @SamBlackburnTR
SCOREBOARD
Seniors
Brad Baker 70-70 — 140
Troy Frazee 72-70 — 142
Rich Bubenchik 72-71 — 143
Kevin Terry 76-72 — 148
Tom Crowley 79-70 — 149
Todd Hixson 78-73 — 151
Tom Bragg 78-75 — 153
Chris Luthi 85-69 — 154
Dave Durst 80-76 — 156
Ben Harris 79-77 — 156
Mike Walters 82-75 — 157
Missed the Cut
Dan McPeck 84-79 — 163
Charles King 83-83 — 166
Dan Rauch 84-85 — 169
Russ Hull 91-84 — 175
Matt Yinger 95-90 — 185
Freddie Fisher 108-84 — 192
Gene Jones 102-105 — 207
Super Seniors
Dave Kennedy 74-71 — 145
Jim Spargrove 76-74 — 150
James Hatcher 78-74 — 152
Dick McPeck 74-78 — 152
Mark Ballmer 81-73 — 154
Dave Sheppard 83-72 — 155
Carl Bayer 77-82 — 159
Doug Vousden 83-78 — 161
Rick Bonifant 87-75 — 162
Mark Redfern 85-78 — 163
Missed the Cut
Tommy Georgiades 82-84 — 166
Dennis Miller 91-87 — 178
J.C. McLendon 94-88 — 182
Dwight Parmiter 88-94 — 182
Bob Tokie 95-90 — 185
Butch Schockling 105-86 — 191
Final Round Tee Times
11 a.m. — Rick Bonifant, Mark Redfern
11:08 — Carl Boyer, Doug Vousden
11:15 — Ben Harris, Mike Walters
11:23 — Tom Bragg, Chris Luthi, Dave Durst
11:30 — James Hatcher, Mark Ballmer, Dave Sheppard
11:38 — Dave Kennedy, Jim Spargrove, Dick McPeck
11:45 — Kevin Terry, Tom Crowley, Todd Hixson
11:52 — Brad Baker, Troy Frazee, Rich Bubenchik
This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Brad Baker leading at ZDGA Senior Amateur, but it's close
