Brandywine Country Club’s Michael Balcar storms back from 3 shots down to win 2023 Ohio Open Championship

WESTFIELD, Ohio – Michael Balcar, assistant pro at Brandywine Country Club, came back from being 3 shots down Wednesday to win the 102nd Ohio Open Championship at Westfield Country Club.

Balcar, 30, shot a final-round 5-under 65 and held off Kent State graduate student Cade Breitenstine with a 54-hole score of 14-under 196.

Breitenstine was the leader after each of the first two rounds with consecutive 64s. He shot a final-round 69 to finish 1 stroke back at 197.

Balcar’s rounds of 66-65-65=196 set a tournament scoring record for tournaments held over Westfield’s two courses. The previous record was 198, set by 2013 winner Colin Biles of Columbus.

Wittenberg University assistant coach Nick Carlson finished third at 66-65-68=199 and high school senior Jack Vojtko (67-66-71=204) was fourth.

The turning point of the match came on the 221-yard 17th hole. Breitenstine was leading by one shot but hit his tee shot short and in the rough just left of the hole. His chip shot from a difficult angle rolled five feet past the hole, leading to a bogey.

Meanwhile, Balcar hit a 5-iron “as hard as I could” off the tee to 10 feet. He calmly rolled in the birdie putt to take a one-shot lead.

Both men parred the 387-yard 18th but not without some drama. Breitenstine hit a fine drive to the right side of the fairway while Balcar’s drive faded into the rough behind some trees. He was able to clear the trees but was about 50 feet from the hole, while Breitenstine’s second stopped about 10 feet from the hole and he two-putted.

Balcar lagged his first putt to about seven feet and he made the putt for the win.

– The information in this report was provided by Tim Rogers, tournament media contact.

Final Round Results

Overall, Finishers in the Top 25

• 1 Michael Balcar Toledo, OH 66-65-65–196 -14
• 2 Cade Breitenstine (a) Akron, OH 64-64-69–197 -13
• 3 Nick Carlson Springfield, OH 66-65-68–199 -11
• 4 Jack Vojtko (a) Stow, OH 67-66-71–204 -6
• T5 Bryce Haney (a) Huber Heights, OH 69-71-65–205 -5
• T5 Joe Wilson IV (a) West Chester, OH 72-67-66–205 -5
• T5 Kevin Hall Cincinnati, OH 69-65-71–205 -5
• 8 Jacob McBride Hartville, OH 72-69-65–206 -4
• T9 TT Crouch Fredericktown, OH 72-69-66–207 -3
• T9 Troy Taylor II (a) Westerville, OH 69-70-68–207 -3
• T9 Ethan Tracy Columbus, OH 70-68-69–207 -3
• T9 Nathan Tarter Mogadore, OH 67-71-69–207 -3
• T9 Ryan Yip Kent, OH 67-71-69–207 -3
• T14 Logan Lagodich Canton, OH 67-74-67–208 -2
• T14 Jake Fox Cincinnati, OH 72-69-67–208 -2
• T14 Ryan Troyer Dover, OH 70-70-68–208 -2
• T14 Tyler Light Massillon, OH 73-66-69–208 -2
• T18 Joe Moore Englewood, OH 71-71-67–209 -1
• T18 Jordan Gilkison (a) Washington Township, OH 70-71-68–209 -1
• T18 Connor Curry Mount Vernon, OH 70-68-71–209 -1
• T18 Josh Gilkison Washington Township, OH 71-67-71–209 -1
• T18 Zander Gibson (a) Concord, OH 69-69-71–209 -1
• T23 Stephen Gangluff Bellfontaine, OH 68-74-68–210 E
• T23 Jim Troy Strongsville, OH 71-70-69–210 E
• T23 Paul Wackerly Minerva, OH 69-71-70–210 E
• T23 Ian Hardesty (a) Kent, OH 69-68-73–210 E