Fredericktown’s T.T. Crouch, who is an instructor at the Mount Vernon Junior League and an assistant golf coach for Mount Vernon Nazarene University, carded a one-under par 209 for three rounds to finish in a tie for 19th, to lead all local golfers at the 101st Ohio Open Championship Wednesday at Westfield Country Club.
After his second round, he was in fifth place at 5 under par.
Jordan Gilkison, a sophomore at Kent State, who was tied with Crouch after two rounds, shot a final-round 5-under 65 to become the first amateur in 44 years to win the event.
With rounds of 72-63-65, Gilkison finished the tournament at 10-under 200 for a one-stroke victory over Wright State senior Mikkel Mathiesen to become the first non-professional to win the Open since Bobby Lewis in 1978, when the event was held at Mill Creek in Boardman.
Only five other amateurs, including Jack Nicklaus in 1956, have won what is regarded as the state championship.
Mathieson, a native of Denmark, finished second with rounds and of 69-65-67, and Avery Schneider, from New Albany, was third at 70-67-65 – 202.
Defending champion Jake McBride (Hartville) and three-time champion Bob Sowards (Dublin) finished in a tie for fourth at 203, along with Gilkison’s older brother, Josh, a recent Kent State graduate. All finished at 7 under, as McBride closed with a 4-under 66 and Sowards and Josh Gilkison came in at 69.
Other local golfers included Connor Curry, an amateur from Mount Vernon, who finished in a tie for 46th with a score of five over par for three rounds.
Amateur Matthew McMullen from Galion missed the cut at 4 over par after two rounds. Amateur Connor Ritter from East Sparta missed the cut after two rounds at 10 over. Nick Stehle from Lexington missed the cut after two rounds at 16 over.
