WESTFIELD CENTER — Newly turned professional Maxwell Moldovan and 11 returning champions highlight the 288-golfer field for the 103rd Ohio Open, which begins Monday at Westfield Country Club’s North and South courses. 

The 54-hole, stroke-play event, conducted by the Northern Ohio PGA, runs through Wednesday. A cut of the top 60 and ties will occur after the second round.

The 22-year-old Moldovan recently ended an outstanding four-year career at Ohio State, helping the Buckeyes to a tie for third place in the NCAA championships. A four-time All-Big Ten selection and two-time All-American, Moldovan owns the lowest career scoring average (71.25) in Ohio State history. 

The Green High School product has played two events on the PGA Americas Tour so far, missing the cut in both. He played in his third straight U.S. Open when he competed at Pinehurst No. 2 two weeks ago. 

Among the 11 returning Ohio Open champions are reigning champ Michael Balcar and Lake High School alum Jake McBride. 

Balcar, a Toledo native and Cleveland State graduate, shot a 14-under 196 last year to set a scoring record for Ohio Opens at Westfield. He was one stroke better than Cade Breitenstine, a Green High School and Kent State graduate. 

McBride, who played collegiately at North Carolina State, won the 2021 Ohio Open by beating Northwest High School and Malone University product Justin Lower on the first playoff hole. Lower, a two-time Ohio Open winner (2012, 2015), now is in his third season playing on the PGA Tour. 

Other notables in the field this year are reigning Ohio Amateur champion Andrew Bailey; three-time Ohio Open champ and five-time Ohio Senior Open winner Bob Sowards; three-time Ohio Open champ Rob Moss; and the most recent back-to-back winner, Stephen Gangluff (2018-19). 

Three women also will tee it up in the event. They are Tannenhauf Golf Club head professional Mary Suitca, Northern Kentucky head coach Melissa Yeazell and 2023 OHSAA Division I state runner-up Isabella Goyette from Highland. 

Supporters of the bill say they are trying to protect women and girls from humiliation, intimidation and violence.

The Ohio House of Representatives has passed a bill that would require schools and colleges to designate male-only and female-only bathrooms and locker rooms. 

“No school shall permit a member of the male biological sex to use a student restroom, locker room, changing room, or shower room that has been designated by the school for the exclusive use of the female biological sex,” the measure states, with similar language prohibiting females from using male facilities.

The proposed legislation would also prohibit males and females from sharing overnight accommodations.

But the measure would allow schools to allow students to use “single-occupancy facilities” or “faculty facilities” if a student requests to do so “due to special circumstances.”

It would also allow what it calls a “family facility” that would serve a parent, guardian or family member assisting a child under age 10.

The vote on the measure, which was tacked onto another bill late Wednesday night, was 60-31 in favor, largely along party lines, with all Democrats opposing and all but two Republicans voting in favor.

Supporters of the bill say they are trying to protect women and girls from humiliation, intimidation and violence.

“Boys and girls should not be in locker rooms together. They should not be in bathrooms together and they should not be sharing overnight accommodations,” said state Rep. Beth Lear, R-Galena, according to the Ohio Capital Journal. 

Opponents of the bill say it’s a swipe at students who identify as transgender. 

“I didn’t anticipate we would be using the power of the state to bully transgender children and individuals today. As far as protecting girls and women, I will tell you as a woman, I do not want nor need your protection,” said Ohio state Rep. Beth Liston, D-Dublin, according to the Ohio Capital Journal. 

The bill’s future is uncertain. The Ohio Senate would have to agree to the language for it to go to Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, who has not said publicly whether he would sign it. In January, the governor vetoed a law banning gender transitioning for minors. The Legislature later overrode his veto and passed the legislation.

Since the state Legislature has gone on summer recess, it’s not clear when or whether the state Senate will vote on the bill.

The Ohio State Buckeyes are one of the most talked-about teams in college football. As a result, they’ll likely be one of the most-played teams when the highly-anticipated College Football 25 video game officially releases on Friday, July 19. 

Ohio State’s popularity matches its talent, and the game developers at EA clearly agree. The official CFB 25 team ratings were revealed Friday, and the Buckeyes come in tied as the second-best team in the game at a 93 overall. The Oregon Ducks also received a 93 overall rating while the Georgia Bulldogs are the highest-rated team at 95 overall. 

Here’s the top 10: 

Georgia – 95 overall

Ohio State – 93 overall

Oregon – 93 overall

Alabama – 92 overall 

Texas – 92 overall 

Clemson – 90 overall 

Notre Dame – 90 overall 

LSU – 90 overall 

Penn State – 88 overall

Utah – 88 overall

Ohio State transfer running back Quinshon Judkins is one of the featured athletes on the deluxe cover of the game. He helps headline an elite Buckeyes transfer class. 

Along with Judkins, a former Ole Miss star, the Buckeyes also landed talented Alabama safety Caleb Downs earlier this offseason. Elsewhere on the roster, the departure of Kyle McCord left the team looking for a QB early in the offseason, but that void was filled quickly by Kansas State transfer Will Howard, who brings four years of experience to the position. 

Ohio State also added five-star freshman Jeremiah Smith, who’s expected to immediately contribute next season as arguably the best freshman in the country. Considering that he’s not usually the first one brought up when discussing the roster is a great sign for Buckeye fans that have a loaded roster to cheer for — and play as — once again.

There will be tons of new and exciting players for Ohio State fans to play as once the game officially drops next month.