Pluchinsky, Robertson claim Greatest Golfer titles

By Greg Gulas

sports@vindy.com

POLAND

Brandon Pluchinsky finally cooled off after carding consecutive rounds of 67, posting 75 Sunday and a 209 overall to win the 10th Farmers National Bank Greatest Golfer of the Valley’s Pete Mollica men’s open division championship.

It was Pluchinsky’s third open title and fourth overall dating back to his first title as a teen, outdistancing Jonah Karzmer (67-75-69—211) by two strokes. Karzmer carded a final day best 69 to slash six strokes off his eight-stroke deficit entering final day action.

A total of 287 players entered this year’s competition and after Sunday’s finals at The Lake Club, seven players have now won multiple championships with six others becoming first-time champions.

Ken Keller (71-72-70—213) finished third.

“I played a little safe today, trying to hit the middle of the greens but caught a few bad breaks. It happens,” Pluchinsky said. “Having a cushion heading into today’s final round was nice. Making par putts also helped.

“My long game was good, but the wind took the ball all over the place so it wasn’t an easy round by any stretch of the imagination. It’s very humbling to be called a three-time champion and four-time Greatest winner.”

Emily Robertson (72-73-71) carded 216, led all three rounds and easily outdistanced runner-up Angela Molaskey 76-80-75—231) by 15 strokes.

It was Robertson’s first GGOV competition.

“My group could not have been any better to play with,” Robertson said. “All of the courses were great and the Lake Club today was beautiful. The greens were very tricky so the strategy was to go out, have fun and try to maintain my lead.”

In senior’s open division, Geno Bellatto (65-74-75— 214) trailed Dick Marlowe by two strokes entering Sunday’s action and was tied with Frank Santisi (68-75-71—214) after 54-holes. He sunk a 20-foot putt on the first play-off hole for his third title.

He also won back-to-back titles in 2016-17.

“I only made two putts all day and that was one of them. The other came on hole No. 15,” Bellatto said. “I played against Frank in high school and cannot say enough about this event. It really was a lot of fun.”

In men’s 3-6 action, Poland’s J.P. Jones (69-79-76—224) captured his first title on his initial try, defeating Dylan Todd (72-76-78—226) by two strokes.

Jake Snyder (76-79-72—227) was also playing in his first event, outdistancing A.J. Myers (73-82-77—232) by five strokes for the men’s 7-9 championship.

He’ll attend Princeton University this fall and study politics.

“I was down one stroke on the first nine holes then in my head, decided to go match play,” Snyder said. “They say you play against the course or other players and in my head, I was playing against the other players.”

Jay Crago (71-85-78—234) of East Liverpool was tied with Roderick Cook (75-80-79—234) after regulation, winning the men’s 10-12 title on his initial try with a par on the first play-off hole.

“The competition was tremendous and with this being my first competition, I had a great time,” Crago said. “Everything fell just right for me on the play-off hole.”

Jean Scarsella (72-73—145) defeated Pam Porter (76-70—146) by a stroke to capture the initial women’s senior net crown. Linda Burke (73-77—150) finished third overall.

“I had a really good round going, then took a five on No. 17 and three-putted No. 18,” Scarsella said. “I had a lot of fun, but it was also nerve-racking.”

Bob Leonard (69-76-78—223) entered Sunday with a four-stroke lead over Tim Porter (71-78-79—228), but hung on to win the legend’s open title by five strokes, his fifth overall title and third consecutive crown.

He won his very first title in the GGOV’s inaugural year (2010), added one in 2012 and has been the champion since 2017.

“Putting was tough today,” he said. “My good buddy, Ed Antonelli, won three in a row and I wanted to match him. I finally did.”

In legends 10-plus, Pete Bennett (77-84-76—237) won by 12 strokes over John Dunn and Rick Istnick with Dunn capturing runner-up laurels by virtue of a scorecard playoff.

Bennett has played in nine of 10 Greatest events and with today’s title, is now a three-time winner (he also won in 2012 and 2016). He registered two birdies, eight pars and eight bogeys

“I had a two-stroke lead entering today’s action so I played to the competition,” he said. “I had a lot of fun, despite the fact that it was hot and humid.”

Boardman’s Bradley Koch (75-84-85—244) has played in all 10 Greatest events, defeated Joshua Marsh (80-81-84—245) by a stroke in men’s 13-15 for his second consecutive title.

“I got off to a rough start today with triple bogeys on the first two holes,” Koch said. “I had to grind through the first nine holes with things taking a turn for the better after I chipped in for birdie on No. 12 to stay within one of the lead. I then took the lead with three holes left and never gave it up.”

Dan Horacek (78-87-91—256) copped the men’s 16-20 championship by one stroke over Adrian Amedia (81-86-90—257), his second title and first since 2012.

“The conditions on opening day at Mill Creek started me off on the right foot,” Horacek said. “I played at Salem on Saturday and shot a 41 on the back nine to save my round. I struggled today but scrambled on the back nine, and that saved me.”

Chuck Montgomery (69-75-80—224) defeated Brad McDevitt (73-77-77—227) by three strokes for the senior’s 7-11 championship, his first GGOV crown.

He finished third in 2018.

“I played safe today. With a big lead, I didn’t want to give things away,” Montgomery said. “The goal was to keep it in play and not do anything out of the ordinary.”

In senior’s 12-plus, Canfield’s Fred Fisher (75-81-78—234) won his second consecutive crown and third in the past four years by 11 strokes over runner-up Tim Russo (74-80-89—243).

“I was shaky on the front nine but solid on the back,” Fisher said. “The greens were really nice and this is by far my best run in any tournament of which I have taken part.”