There is a new face in the Southern Ohio PGA winner’s circle as Austin Eccleton of Heritage Club claimed his first Section victory at the Queen City Classic at Maketewah Country Club. Eccleton shot a 3-under-par 68 to squeeze in ahead of a three-way tie for second place at 2-under-par 69.
Ryne Burnett, PGA Daniel Sorgini, PGA and Doug Wade, PGA all looked primed for a playoff as the leaders in the clubhouse before Eccleton came in and nipped them all by one stroke. Eccleton surged out of the gates with a birdie on the first hole and capped his front nine with a birdie on the par-3 ninth to turn at 3-under.
He had an up-and-down back nine before righting the ship to bring home the victory. Eccleton started his back nine with a bogey on number ten before back-to-back birdies on 11 and 12 to get as low as 4-under for the day. After giving back one stroke each on holes 13 and 14, Eccleton made birdie on hole 15 to regain the lead for good. He finished with three straight pars to hold off the field.
Doug Wade of Sugar Valley Golf Club tied Sycamore Creek Country Club’s Casey Lewis for the most birdies of the day with seven, including four in a row on holes 4-7. He really took advantage of the par-5 holes, making birdie on all three of them.
Ryne Burnett of Kenwood Country Club played bogey-free on his first 12 holes of the day before his only bogey of the day on the 13th hole. He played steady throughout the day on his way to a total score of 69.
Daniel Sorgini of Blacklick Woods Golf Course put up five birdies on the day, including three during a four hole stretch on holes 12-15. A bogey on the par-3 18th hole brought him back to a final score of 69 to finish in a tie with Burnett and Wade.
The Section office would like to thank Dave Bahr, PGA and his entire staff at Maketewah for hosting the Queen City Classic. They were great hosts and provided a wonderful experience for the event.
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