Pluchinsky still in front at OPGA

Staff report

SUNBURY

The top three players in the Ohio Public Golf Association Publinx Tournament remained the same Thursday after the third round at North Star Golf Club.

Former South Range and Youngstown State golfer Brandon Pluchinsky shot a round of 70 and remained the leader entering today’s final round at the resort north of Columbus.

Pluchinsky opened with a 72 on Tuesday and shot 68 on Wednesday. His three-day total of 210 gave him a two-stroke lead over Gabe Reynolds of Ashland and a seven-stroke edge over Adam Fluty of New Albany.

Reynolds and Fluty had been tied for second, but Reynolds (72-71-69—212) separated himself from Fluty (69-74-74—217) in the third round.

Pluchinsky, who completed his college golf career at YSU this spring, is joined in the field by several current Penguins.

Steven Sveda (72-75-76—223), Dominic Carano (74-76-75—225), Justin Hallapy (76-73-77—226), Thomas Lydic (76-77-75—228) and Jason McQuown (77-74-77—228) and Jacob Harrah (74-75-80—229) also made the cut for the final round.

Sveda is a native of Dayton. Carano (Canfield), Hallapy (Hubbard), Lydic (Champion), McQuown (Poland) and Harrah (Newton Falls) are all Mahoning Valley natives.

Sveda, Hallapy and Lydic are seniors. Carano and McQuown are sophomores and Harrah is a redshirt freshman.

Former Warren JFK golfer Ryan Fowler (77-76-79—232), a freshman at Palm Beach (Fla.) Atlantic, also made the cut.