CINCINNATI, OH (August 31, 2022) – Sam Arnold, PGA posted an opening round five-under-par 66 at Clovernook Country Club to hold the 77th Southern Ohio PGA Senior Professional Championship presented by Cadillac lead by one.
In just his second year of eligibility, Arnold, the PGA General Manager at The Vineyard Golf Course in Cincinnati, OH, arrived at the 77th Southern Ohio PGA Senior Professional Championship with his mind on the prize – a fourth Section title and his first as a Senior. He opened the round with a birdie on Clovernook Country Club’s first hole and stayed steady with a string of pars. He added two more birdies to make the turn at three-under-par 32. Arnold continued adding two more birdies on his card through the back nine until a couple of bogeys heading into the home stretch. He bounced back quickly though, making an eagle on the 17th. Arnold closed the round with a par to post a score of five-under-par 66 and secure the overnight lead.
One stroke back at four-under-par Dave Bahr, PGA and Bob Sowards, PGA will join Arnold in Thursday’s final round pairing. Four-time Southern Ohio Senior Professional Champion Sowards, PGA Director of Instruction at Kinsale Golf and Fitness Center in Columbus, looks to defend his title in the final round. Although carding three bogeys on the day, he opened the round with birdies on the first two holes and closed it with birdies on the final two to post a score of four-under-par 67. Bahr, PGA Head Professional at Maketewah Country Club in Cincinnati, also opened his round with birdies on the first two holes. Although adding a couple bogeys on the round, he carded three birdies in the final four holes to post a score of four-under-par 67. Heading into the final round, Bahr is looking to capture his first Senior Section title.
2014 Southern Ohio Senior Professional Champion Tim Krapfel, PGA Head Professional at Bel-Wood Country Club, sits two strokes off the leader at three-under-par. He opened the tournament with a birdie on the first hole. A few bogeys on his round were answered with birdies and a birdie on the 18th helped him post a score of three-under-par 68. PGA Head Professional at Jefferson Golf & Country Club Barry Hinckley rounds out the top-five after posting score of even-par 71 in the opening round. Five players also still in the hunt for the Championship sit at one-over-par 71 heading into the final round.
The 30 player field returns to Clovernook Country Club on Thursday, September 1 for the final round beginning at 8:00 AM. The top-five finishers in the 77th SOPGA Senior Professional Championship will qualify for the 2022 PGA Senior Professional Championship. Five alternate player spots are also available to the top players. Bob Sowards, PGA, Director of Instruction at Kinsale Golf & Fitness Center, has earned an exemption into the 2022 PGA Senior Professional Championship based on his top finish at previous championships.
To view tee times for the final round of the Southern Ohio PGA Senior Professional Championship, click here.
To view the full Southern Ohio PGA Senior Professional Championship leaderboard, click here.
The 2022 Southern Ohio PGA Senior Professional Championship is presented by Cadillac. It is also made possible thanks to supporting partners NBC Golf Channel and the PGA Tour.
Thanks to Michael Deters, PGA and his team at Clovernook Country Club for their commitment to hosting the 77th Southern Ohio PGA Senior Professional Championship.