Kornowa’s occasional play good enough

The 28-year-old bank employee has a share of the Ohio Amateur lead.

FINDLAY (AP) — Golf used to be Kevin Kornowa’s life. Now it’s just a nice way to spend a leisurely Saturday or Sunday.

Kornowa shares the lead at 4-under 67 with college players Alex Martin, Ethan Tracy and Kyle Cobb after Tuesday’s opening round of the 102nd Ohio Amateur golf championship at Findlay Country Club.

Kornowa was a confident ex-University of Toledo player when he captured the Ohio Am in 2002 at the Sylvania Country Club, where he caddied as a kid.

“I was right out of college and I won the top amateur event in the state,” said Kornowa, now 28. “You can’t go wrong there.”

Back then, about all he thought about was playing golf. These days, when he gets time away from his job in the commercial lending division of a bank he prefers to hang around the house with wife, Renee, and their 10-month-old daughter, Lindsey.

Kornowa had not played in the Ohio Am since 2004. Golf has become a sporadic hobby, something he enjoys when he has the time. It’s no longer an obsession.

“This year it worked out with vacation,” he said. “It’s only a 45-minute drive from home. It’s not bad. I hadn’t played for a few years. I just couldn’t get away from work.”

Now that he’s playing, the six-time club champion at Highland Meadows — where Paula Creamer won the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic on Sunday — is showing some of his old form.

Kornowa, who teed off on the 10th hole, was 3-under when he reached the par-5 18th hole, but he encountered problems off the tee when he hit his drive into the trees. He chipped out to the fairway only to later hit his approach over the green.

Then he turned around and eagled hole No. 1 to at least make up for the double.