Friday, July 13, 2001
Gerwin 3 back after Ohio Amateur controversy
The Associated Press
Robert Gerwin
(Dick Swaim photo)
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MASON — Robert Gerwin kept his head and Erik Herberth kept his lead in the third round of the 95th Ohio Amateur golf championship at the Heritage Club Thursday.
Gerwin, winner of the 1996 amateur who plays out of Camargo Country Club, trails by three shots going into the final round today, but the deficit could have been greater after an official botched a ruling at the 17th hole.
“I can't even express it,” Gerwin said. “You're out there for four hours, your emotions are churning, you've got to play two balls. It's very difficult.”
Gerwin hit his drive on the par-4 hole into the trees on the left. The ball came to rest an inch from the cart path and almost under the fence. Gerwin consulted with the hole official representing the sponsoring Ohio Golf Association and then removed the bottom horizontal plank.
Other OGA officials then were called to the hole. Gerwin was instructed to play a second ball. He made bogey with each ball.
The OGA initially ruled Gerwin would be given a two-shot penalty for removing an obstruction. Gerwin quietly but assertively discussed the matter with officials from the OGA. But because an OGA official had applied an incorrect ruling, he would be absolved of the penalty.
Former Cincinnatian Pete Samborsky II is eight strokes back.
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Gerwin, who broke the competitive course record with a 64 in the first round, finished with an even-par 72 to finish at 211. He shared second with another native of Cincinnati, Lykins, a redshirt sophomore on the UC golf team who shot a 70.
Gerwin said the three-shot deficit wasn't too much to overcome.
“Not at all on this golf course,” he said. “There are a lot of dangers out there. Danger lurks everywhere on this golf course.”
Lykins said just being in one of the final groups on the final day of the state amateur was a major accomplishment.
“It's always fun when you have a chance to lead a tournament,” he said. “When you've got a chance to win it ... it's something (Jack) Nicklaus never did.”
Herberth shot his second consecutive 1-under-par 71.
“I'm just going to go out like I did today and hit fairways and greens,” said Herberth, who will be a senior on the Ohio University golf team. “If I make 18 pars tomorrow, I think I'll be OK.”
Herberth's 71 left him at 8-under 208.
Oak Hills High graduate Pete Samborsky was at 214, after a 76. Xavier's Atlantic 10 Conference medalist, Cincinnati native Tim Donovan, was at 215.
The top 40 and ties made the cut of 227. Neil Lykins' older brother, Nick, also made the cut with a 71 to get to 218.
Taylor Metcalfe of Cincinnati, the 1976 champion, shot an 82 to finish at 233.
Check out our Tristate golf guide for a directory and features on local courses, coverage of the Men's and Women's Met, and other news.
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Gerwin 3 back after Ohio Amateur controversy