Overlooked Snyder nabs Ohio Amateur

The Massillon native called the three-day tournament a “mental grind.”

FINDLAY (AP) — Vaughn Snyder was too tired to celebrate.

Moments after he had beaten back numerous challengers and had overcome oppressive heat, gusting winds and a treacherous course to win the 102nd Ohio Amateur championship Friday, he was just looking for a place to rest.

“I’m just exhausted. That was a lot of hard work out there today,” he said after his even-par 71 gave him a two-shot victory. “I’m so tired.”

Almost an afterthought among several Ohio State players this week, Snyder came off the pace to steal the biggest prize.

On a day when the field averaged just under 76 strokes, he had one of the lowest rounds.

He finished at 283, with a birdie on the final hole, to become the only player in the field of 147 to break par. Most stalked away from Findlay Country Club cursing the conditions, the high temperatures, the gnarly rough, the lightning-fast greens and the pin positions.

Only Snyder, who had rounds of 71, 71 and 70 the first three days, ended up with a smile on his face.

And that smile was forced.

“This has been a mental grind,” said Snyder, of Massillon. “The golf course is so difficult and so demanding on every shot. It just takes a lot out of you.”

Blake Furgerson of Concord shot a 72 and tied for second with Alex Martin of Middletown, who had a 74, and second-round leader Ethan Tracy, who had a 77. All three finished at 1-over 285.

They were left to think about how close they had come and what had slipped away.

“I’m pretty disappointed,” said Tracy, who will play next year at the University of Arkansas. “I was right there all day and shot a 77 to finish second. All I needed to do was shoot a 75.”

Ohio State teammate Kyle Coconis of Zanesville, who began the day with a one-shot lead over Tracy, wilted to a 79 and was at 286.

Snyder, who played for the University of Akron for two years before transferring to Ohio State, began the round tied for fourth and five shots back of Coconis.

He birdied the first and sixth holes but then gave those shots back when he four-putted the par-4 ninth hole for a double-bogey.

Snyder added birdies at the 15th and 18th holes, but it was the pars in between that helped him with the title. Almost every player in the field struggled down the stretch in a blustery, arid wind that caused a two-club difference on most shots.