Drew Salyers, a former All-Big Ten player, won the 103rd Ohio Open by one shot after the lead changed hands several times during the final round. He shot a 2-under-par 68 during the final round to finish with a 54-hole score of 10-under 200.
Salyers was an All-American at Indiana University. He had rounds of 67-65-68 this week in winning the $10,000 top prize.
Strongsville’s Jake Scott (66-68-67), Minerva’s Paul Wackerly (71-64-66) and Shaker Heights amateur Andrew Bailey (71-62-68) finished tied for second at 9-under 201.
Bailey, the reigning Ohio Open champion, was the low amateur, finishing one shot ahead of edged Pickerington’s Carson Bellish, a sophomore at Xavier. The original field featured 149 non-professionals.
The lead changed hands several times between Salyers, Scott, Bailey and Wackerly. Salyers took control with a birdie on the par-3 No. 11 and a decisive birdie on the 391-yard No. 16. He made an 8-foot putt from behind the hole for the birdie on 16.
This was Salyer’s first Ohio Open as a professional. He began the day as one of three players tied for second. They were one shot behind second-round leader Daniel Wetterich, who shot a final-round 71 to share fifth place with Bellish.
Former Green High School and Ohio State star Maxwell Moldovan, who shared the first-round lead with defending champion Michael Balcar and Ball State senior Ali Khan, fell out of contention midway through the final round along with Balcar and Khan.
