2025 NOPGA Senior Professional Championship

Former Champion Gary Rusnak Leads by Two

Former champion Gary Rusnak shot an opening 3-under 68 on Monday to take the lead after the first round of the 41st NOPGA Senior Professional Championship at Chagrin Valley Country Club.

1899 Golf’s Rusnak, of Painesville, will take a two-shot lead into Tuesday’s final 18 holes as he attempts to join six others with multiple victories in this event, which will qualify four players to the 37th Senior PGA Championship in October at the PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Rusnak, who won this event in 2021 when it was held at Lakewood Country Club, leads Youngstown Country Club Assistant Professional Jon Jones and Union Country Club Head Pro Sean Kenily, both of whom shot 35-35=70.

Steve Stone, also a former champion, and PGA Life Member Tom Waitrovich are tied for fourth at one-over 72 and Kevin Sullivan, Director of Player Development at Quail Hollow Country Club and Bret James, Director of Instruction at Sylvania Country Club, share sixth place at 73.

Rusnak, 62, had four birdies and one bogey as the only player to break 70 on a windy and unseasonably chilly day that was peppered with intermittent rain. His only bogey came when he three-putted the second hole. After making the turn at even-par Rusnak birdied two of the first three holes on the back by making a 10-foot putt on the 313-yard 11th and then dropping a 40-footer from the back fringe on the 447-yard 12th arguably the toughest hole on the course. He got to 3-under when he made a downhill six-foot putt on the par-5 17th.

Jones, who was in contention until the final round in the NOPGA Professional Championship at Tippecanoe Country Club two weeks ago, was two-over after 15 holes but closed in sterling fashion with three consecutive birdies.

Play resumes on Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. with Rusnak, Kenily and Jones in the final pairing at 10:30.

RD1 PHOTO GALLERY: 2025 NOPGA Sr Professional Championship >

 
ROUND 1 RESULTS: Northern Ohio PGA
41st NOPGA Senior Professional Championship
Chagrin Valley Country Club, Chagrin Falls
Monday, August 25, 2025
Blue Golf Hole-by-Hole Results >

1. Gary Rusnak, Painesville, OH, 1899 Indoor Golf – Twinsburg, *35-33-68 -3
2. Jon Jones, Warren, OH, Youngstown Country Club, *35-35-70 -1
2. Sean Kenily, New Philadelphia, OH, Union Country Club, *35-35-70 -1
4. Steve Stone, Maumee, OH, McDivots Driving Range, *37-35-72 +1
4. Tom Waitrovich, Westlake, Ohio, PGA Of America Life Member, *36-36-72 +1
6. Bret James, Cave Creek, AZ, Sylvania Country Club, *36-37-73 +2
6. Kevin Sullivan, Painesville, OH, Quail Hollow Country Club – Weiskopf/Morrish, *35-38-73 +2
8. Mitch Camp, Aurora, OH, PGA Of America Life Member, *36-38-74 +3
8. Rob Moss, Broadview Heights, OH, Pepper Pike Club, *37-37-74 +3
8. Mike Stone, Perrysburg, OH, Belmont Country Club, *35-39-74 +3
8. Daniel Terry, Wadsworth, OH, Chippewa Golf Club – Doylestown, *37-37-74 +3
12. Mark Evans, Stow, OH, The Mayfield Sand Ridge Club – Mayfield, *36-39-75 +4
12. Scott Pollack, Chagrin Falls, OH, 1899 Indoor Golf – Twinsburg, *37-38-75 +4
14. Tony Adcock, Canton, OH, Foxy Golf Canton, *37-39-76 +5
14. Christopher Carfangia, Hubbard, OH, Pine Lakes Golf Club, *38-38-76 +5
14. Josh Coad, Utica, OH, Mount Vernon Country Club, *37-39-76 +5
14. Tony Milam, Concord Township, OH, North Coast Junior Tour, *36-40-76 +5
14. Eric Morgan, Sandusky, OH, Plum Brook Country Club, *38-38-76 +5
19. Mike Heisterkamp, Westlake, OH, Chagrin Valley Country Club, *38-39-77 +6
19. Ronald Salerno, Broadview Hts, OH, X-Golf Broadview Heights, *36-41-77 +6
19. Nick Szymanski, Toledo, OH, South Toledo Golf Club, *38-39-77 +6
22. Joseph Borawski, Massillon, OH, Brookside Country Club, *41-37-78 +7
23. Tom Kochensparger, Willoughby, OH, The Tanglewood Club, *37-42-79 +8
23. Dan Sutton, Holland, OH, McDivots Driving Range, *38-41-79 +8
25. Jason Carbone, Cleveland, OH, Canterbury Golf Club, *39-41-80 +9
25. Gregg Matthus, Canton, OH, Shady Hollow Country Club, *41-39-80 +9
25. Brad Ruminski, Mansfield, PGA Of America Life Member, *43-37-80 +9
25. Trevor Thomas, Findlay, OH, The Delphos Country Club, *39-41-80 +9
25. Gary Trivisonno, Aurora, OH, PGA Of America Life Member, *42-38-80 +9
25. Ned Weaver, Chagrin Falls, OH, Windmill Golf Center​, *41-39-80 +9
31. Dale Davis, North Canton, OH, Firestone Country Club, *39-42-81 +10
32. Mike Rankin, Marion, OH, Westbrook Country Club, *41-41-82 +11
33. Scott Karabin, Warren, OH, Old Avalon Golf Course, *40-44-84 +13
34. Douglas Brown, Alliance, Ohio, Alliance Country Club, *42-43-85 +14
35. Brad Cavey, Medina, OH, Beechmont Country Club, *43-43-86 +15
36. Paul Tessler, Warren, OH, PGA Of America Life Member, *43-44-87 +16