WESTFIELD CENTER — Only a talented 25-year-old playing on his home course could find fault after shooting 67.
Parker Hewit
That was how Westfield Center native Parker Hewit summarized the first round of the 95th Ohio Open, as the former Cloverleaf High and Bowling Green State star led 16 Medina County participants on a rainy and unseasonably nippy Monday at Westfield Group Country Club.
Hewit played the slightly tougher South Course — all 36 holes of the two-course facility are used for the first two rounds — at 3-under par, putting him five strokes behind 42-year-old defending champion and Dakotas Tour standout Tim Ailes.
“It was a little disappointing,” said Hewit, who finished 13th in 2014. “Everything was missing right today for whatever reason. I was hitting range balls, same thing. I must have hit 100 range balls that all had the same out to the right, out to the right, so that was frustrating.
“I hit in the hazard on (No.) 7, which was my 16th hole, and bogeyed (No.) 9, which was my 18th hole, so I had two bogeys. I didn’t do anything special today with the exception of the last couple holes hitting it out to the right.”
Hewit and Montville Township residents Pete Skirpstas (1 under), Austin Schreiber (1 under) and Spencer Koch (1 under) were the only county players to break par, while Brunswick resident and Cleveland State coach Steve Weir (even), Medina’s Kyle Richardson (1 over) and Patrick Luth (1 over), Montville Township’s Bob Koch (1 over) and Howard Clendenin (2 over) and Wadsworth’s Daniel Terry (2 over) weren’t far behind.
The field will be narrowed to 60 players following the second round today. A threat of scattered thunderstorms could wreck havoc on later tee times, much like increasing drizzle did Monday.
Hewit began on the back nine of the 6,546-yard, par-70 South and was in cruise control by making the turn at 1 under. He then took advantage of what he considered an easier stretch and moved to 4 under through 15 holes before finishing bogey, birdie, bogey.
Spencer Koch of Montville Township chips on the 16th hole on the Westfield Group Country Club’s South Course during the first round of the Ohio Open. (RON SCHWANE / GAZETTE)
The final three holes were why the bearded right-hander took the what-if approach, though he backed off initial frustration the more he recapped the round.
“It was one of those days where I just didn’t have anything going,” Hewit said. “That being said, I didn’t shoot myself out of it. I’m going to have to get a good one (today), for sure, but it was a little tough.”
Skirpstas, Spencer Koch and Schreiber each had a different story.
For the always-confident Skirpstas, who spent the winter competing on the PGA Tour Latinoamérica, Monday was about holding his ground after initially struggling with his driver on the South.
The former Mount Olive (N.C.) standout began on No. 10 and had three bogeys and two birdies over his first seven holes, but five straight pars and a needed birdie on the par-4 No. 4 put him in position.
“I’m more happy with the finish and not too terribly disappointed with the start considering I didn’t see the fairway until about No. 13 or No. 14,” the 27-year-old quipped. “I didn’t realize I was playing Westfield for about three hours because I was in the trees.
“(I rebounded because of) will power — straight will power. I kept to my routine and I kept picturing the shot I wanted to hit. Somewhere along the line I started hitting the shots I was picturing.”
Like Hewit, Koch instantly brought up his finish.
The Long Beach State recruit, who shot 61 at Fox Meadow Country Club earlier this month, used his putting to get to 2 under through 12 holes before a pair of bogeys over the final six got in the way.
The right-hander took the bumps in stride, however, and drilled a medium-range par save to end the afternoon.
“I finished terribly, honestly,” he said. “I didn’t do too many good shots the last couple holes. I’m lucky I made that putt, but I hit it good (overall) throughout the day and I chipped it pretty good. I didn’t hit my approach shots too close, but 69 is pretty strong. I’ll take it.”
Schreiber rallied like crazy on the South.
The Ashland standout and academic All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference selection began with two birdies before playing the next 12 holes 4 over. Knowing anything north of par wasn’t going to be acceptable, Schreiber birdied 15, 16 and 18.
The finish was what the easygoing, fast-talking right-hander needed.
“That was a good confidence boost going into (today),” he said. “The scores are so low, (today) is a big day and you have to shoot under par to stay relevant and make the cut.
“In past years, either at the Ohio Am or other tournaments, I always seem to get bad luck on tee times. I finally got done on a front nine with no rain.”
Other county golfers who competed were Mark Scott (Medina, 3 over), Bob Henighan (Medina, 4 over), Sam Thies (Montville Township, 5 over), Jason Martin (Westfield Center, 7 over), Mike King (Seville, 8 over), Mike Bishop (Medina, 8 over), Evan Schreck (Montville Township, 11 over) and Cody Geisler (Westfield Center, 13 over).
Only 40 of the 249 players broke par, with the South playing a half-stroke more difficult than the North.
Contact Albert Grindle at (330) 721-4043 or agrindle@medina-gazette.com.
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