Golf: Cleveland State grad Michael Balcar fires 65, rallies for Ohio Open win

WESTFIELD CENTER — As former Cleveland State golfer Michael Balcar prepared for the final round of the 102nd Ohio Open Championship on Wednesday, words from his former coach, Steve Weir, gave him inspiration. With Weir's words in mind, Balcar erased a three-stroke deficit against Kent State graduate student Cade Breitenstine on Westfield Country Club's South Course to win with a 14-under-par 196. Balcar shot a 5-under 65 in the final round to set the record for the lowest three-round score for an Ohio Open held at Westfield, beating Colin Biles' 198 from 2013. "He told me to show all the proteges carrying Vikings bags how to do it," Balcar said of Weir's message. "It made me feel like I wanted to do it for all my fellow Vikings." Balcar won $10,000, matching last year's top prize. Breitenstine took home $6,500, while playing partner Nick Carlson earned $4,500 for placing third after shooting a 2-under 68 to finish atn 11-under 199. The 30-year-old Balcar, who shot a 4-under 66 on the South Course in the first round and a 5-under 65 on the North Course in the second, took the lead for the first time when he birdied the 225-yard, par-3 17th hole. Balcar launched a 5-iron just past the pin and sank the 10-foot birdie putt. On the same hole, Breitenstine hit his tee shot in the greenside bunker and two-putted for bogey. It was the first time in the tournament that Breitenstine was not in the lead. "It's been a goal of mine since high school, I can say, because it's the first time I played in it," Balcar said of winning the Ohio Open. "Obviously, Jack Nicklaus, so many other names have won this prestigious event. There's so many great players from all over Ohio, and I think if you can win this tournament, you can play anywhere." Earlier in the day on No. 17, former Elyria Country Club head pro Rob Moss recorded the tournament's only hole-in-one with a 3-hybrid. Balcar, a Toledo St. John's Jesuit High graduate, was not deterred when his tee shot on the 387-yard 18th went into the right rough behind a line of trees. He flopped his wedge shot to the front of the green and hit a 60-foot lag putt to 5 feet. Balcar made his putt, while Breitenstine missed his birdie attempt that would have forced a playoff. "I was thinking about Paul Azinger saying that lag putting wins championships," Balcar said of his approach to the 18th hole. "I just wanted to get it up to the green and lag putt it up there. If he made a birdie, more power to him. "I was not going to lose the tournament and make him win it." Breitenstine, a Green graduate, was on fire for the first two rounds with 64s. He did not find a birdie through the first 10 holes Wednesday, allowing Balcar and Carlson to force a three-way tie for the first time after each birdied the 361-yard 10th. Breitenstine grabbed the lead back with a birdie on the 363-yard 11th to put himself at 13 under. It looked like Breitenstine might take a two-stroke lead after sinking a 25-foot birdie putt on the 399-yard 14th, but Balcar answered with a 15-foot putt to stay one stroke back. "The attitude of the week was trying to stay present," Blacar said. "I was trying not to worry about good or bad, just be proud of myself after every shot. If I could look back and know I tried my best with every shot it was going to take care of itself." Ben Hogan, a Wellington resident, finished tied for 27th at 1-over 211 after rounds of 67-73 and 71. He tied for ninth among amateurs. Contact John Urchek at jurchek@medina-gazette.com.