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Strong finish enabled YSU’s Pluchinsky to win NEOAGC
By Tom Williams
YOUNGSTOWN
Thirty-six holes of golf in one day is nothing unusual to college golfers.
It certainly didn’t faze Youngstown State University’s Brandon Pluchinsky, who won the 85th Northeast Ohio Amateur Golf Championship by six shots Monday at the Youngstown Country Club.
Pluchinsky shot a round of 66 followed by a 69 to win the event.
Monday’s full day of golf had nothing to do with the weather, the South Range High School graduate said. The tournament was scheduled to end with 36 holes.
Pluchinsky said he and his Penguins teammates regularly play 36 holes in a day.
“Our school tournaments, we normally play 36 holes on the first day of a 54-hole weekend event,” he said.
In the summer, Pluchinsky usually plays golf six days a week. On Sunday mornings, he often will golf 18 holes with his father, John, then go out later with friends for another 18.
The Northeast Ohio Amateur Golf Championship was spread out over seven days. The first round was played at the Windmill Lakes Golf Club in Ravenna on June 16 and Pluchinsky’s start did not reflect his strong finish. He shot 2-over with three birdies and five bogeys.
The second round was June 18 at Club Walden in Aurora, where Pluchinsky shot an even par 72 (two bogeys and two birdies).
Pluchinsky sizzled with a 5-under 66 on the first 18 holes Monday. He closed with a 2-under 69 to win by six strokes (279 to Aurora’s Tyler McHugh with 285). With 286, Kent State’s Ian Holt finished third.
Although there was no leaderboard posting up-to-date scores, Pluchinsky said he knew he had to be near the top when his morning round went so well.
“I knew shooting 5-under had to put me near the top,” he said. “I was pretty happy with that.”
Five of Pluchinsky’s YSU teammates played in the tournament.
“Coach [Tony Joy] sent us an email with the entry form, suggesting we should play,” Pluchinsky said. “In the summer, you’ve got to play regularly to be in shape for school.”
YSU’s Thomas Lydic tied for ninth with a 296. The other Penguins were: Dominic Carano, 17th, 301; Jason McQuown, 19th, 302; D.J. Holub, 34th, 315; and Evan Standohar, 38th, 321.
Most summer days, Pluchinsky plays at Mill Creek Park. When he’s ready for a major test, he said Avalon Lakes in Howland is “most challenging at 7,500 yards.”
Pluchinsky said conditions changed once the sun came out.
“It was a little more wet than usual,” he said of the YCC course. “On the morning round, you had to shoot for the pins a little more.
“Once it started drying out, the greens sped up,” Pluchinsky said.
Pluchinsky’s summer tournament schedule continues next month with the Mid-Ohio Golf Association tournament in West Lafayette and the Ohio Open the following week.
Pluchinsky celebrated Tuesday with a rare day off. Sleeping in was not an option thanks to the early morning storm that drenched the Mahoning Valley
“Yes, that woke me up. It was pretty loud,” he said.