Marysville native Stephen Ganguff sinks a putt on Wednesday at the Ohio Open. Gangluff won the event for the second straight year.
(Photo submitted)
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Dramatic finishes are not uncommon in the Davey Tree/ Minute Men Ohio Open.
The 98th version of the event, however, one for the ages, as Marysville native Stephen Gangluff roared from behind to win in a three-man playoff on Wednesday at the Weymouth Club in Medina.
Gangluff shot a final-round 5-under 67 to join fast-closing Alex Weiss, of Pickerington, and Barberton’s Chase Johnson in a first-place tie with 54-hole scores of 16-under-par 200.
Gangluff birdied the first playoff hole by making a six-foot putt to pocket the first-place check of $9,000 and become the first back-to-back winner since Bob Wynn, won three straight in 1970, 1971 and 1972.
Only eight others have won consecutive titles and Gangluff becomes the 15th player to win more than once, joining the likes of Denny Shute, Byron Nelson, Bob Shave Jr., Herman Keiser and Frank Stranahan.
Johnson and Weiss set tournament scoring records during the three days, but it was Gangluff, a teaching pro at The Club of Tartan Fields, who hoisted the Commodore Perry Hotel Trophy.
On a day when nearly half the field of 51 broke par-72, no one was as electrifying as Weiss, a native of Pickerington and Marshall University graduate.
Weiss set a Weymouth competitive course record with an 11-under par 61.
At that point Weiss, who has competed on the Latinoamerica Tour, had made seven birdies and an eagle to vault himself into contention after starting the day 10 shots out of the lead.
Pars at 15 and 16, with a lip-out of a birdie attempt at 15, eliminated his chance at 59, but kept him to within one or two strokes of 36-hole leader Johnson, whose driver and wedge foiled his bid to win what essentially is the state championship.
Weiss made putts from every spot other than the cart barn, pro shop and clubhouse. There was a 25-footer at the second, a 12-foot up-hiller on three, a 20-footer on four, another uphiller, this time from 18 feet on five, and an 8-footer on eight. He capped his front nine 29 by chipping in from 30 feet on the last.
He duplicated the chip-in on 18 after making three other birdies en route to a 4-under 32 on the closing nine.