WESTFIELD CENTER — Newly turned professional Maxwell Moldovan and 11 returning champions highlight the 288-golfer field for the 103rd Ohio Open, which begins Monday at Westfield Country Club’s North and South courses.
The 54-hole, stroke-play event, conducted by the Northern Ohio PGA, runs through Wednesday. A cut of the top 60 and ties will occur after the second round.
The 22-year-old Moldovan recently ended an outstanding four-year career at Ohio State, helping the Buckeyes to a tie for third place in the NCAA championships. A four-time All-Big Ten selection and two-time All-American, Moldovan owns the lowest career scoring average (71.25) in Ohio State history.
The Green High School product has played two events on the PGA Americas Tour so far, missing the cut in both. He played in his third straight U.S. Open when he competed at Pinehurst No. 2 two weeks ago.
Among the 11 returning Ohio Open champions are reigning champ Michael Balcar and Lake High School alum Jake McBride.
Balcar, a Toledo native and Cleveland State graduate, shot a 14-under 196 last year to set a scoring record for Ohio Opens at Westfield. He was one stroke better than Cade Breitenstine, a Green High School and Kent State graduate.
McBride, who played collegiately at North Carolina State, won the 2021 Ohio Open by beating Northwest High School and Malone University product Justin Lower on the first playoff hole. Lower, a two-time Ohio Open winner (2012, 2015), now is in his third season playing on the PGA Tour.
Other notables in the field this year are reigning Ohio Amateur champion Andrew Bailey; three-time Ohio Open champ and five-time Ohio Senior Open winner Bob Sowards; three-time Ohio Open champ Rob Moss; and the most recent back-to-back winner, Stephen Gangluff (2018-19).
Three women also will tee it up in the event. They are Tannenhauf Golf Club head professional Mary Suitca, Northern Kentucky head coach Melissa Yeazell and 2023 OHSAA Division I state runner-up Isabella Goyette from Highland.