By Tim Rogers
NOPGA Media
CANFIELD, Ohio – Toledo Country Club head professional Jaysen Hansen shot a second-round 3-under 69 on Tuesday and has sole possession of the lead in the 75th Northern Ohio PGA Professional Championship at stubborn Tippecanoe Country Club.
Hansen’s 36-hole total of 71-69=140 is 4-under and gives him a three-shot lead over first-round leader Jon Jones and Anthony Panepento (76-67) heading into Wednesday’s final round in one of the most coveted NOPGA titles. Jones, longtime assistant professional at the Youngstown Country Club, stumbled to a 75 after an opening 4-under 68.
Erie Shores head professional Nick Gustin (71-73), Stone Oak head professional Milton Carswell (73-71) and Optimus Golf co-owner Mark Sierak (71-73) share third place, four shots back.
Two former champions – Belmont Country Club’s Mike Stone (2019) and Golf Dome instructor Jim Troy (2021, 2022, 2024) – are five shots back, and five-time champion Rob Moss is six behind.
Hansen, a three-time NOPGA Player-of-the-Year since 2008, made four birdies and two bogeys en route to his 69. However, he played bogey-free after the third hole while adding three birdies.
Canterbury Golf Club assistant professional Anthony Panepento and NorthStar Golf Club head professional Nate Curtis shot the two lowest rounds of the day to climb into contention.
Curtis, a 2016 graduate of Ohio State, made an eagle and six birdies en route to a 6-under 66 for a two-day score of 148, eight shots back. Panepento, a graduate of Methodist University, knocked nine shots off his opening 76 for a 5-under 67 and two-day total of one-under 143.
The top five players in the section tournament will qualify for the 58th PGA Professional National Championship, which will be held April 26-29, 2026, at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon, Ore. Four alternate spots also will be awarded.
The Professional Championship is the final event to determine the NOPGA regular division team for the 29th Ohio Cup matches. The top nine point leaders and one captain’s choice in the Regular Division, and the top five and one captain’s pick in the Senior Division will make up the NOPGA team when it takes on the Southern Ohio PGA squad at Wedgewood Golf and Country Club in Powell, Ohio, on Oct. 7-8.
Suitca Wins Again
Tannenhauf Golf Club head professional Mary Suitca shot a final round 80 on Tuesday to win the fifth Northern Ohio Professional Golfers Association Professional Championship at Tippecanoe Country Club.
Suitca’s 36-hole total of 15-over 159 was good for a nine-stroke victory over Alliance assistant professional Melissa Greene (82-86=168). It was Suitca’s second straight victory and fourth overall in the event.
Suitca began the final round with a three-shot lead over Greene but pulled away on the front nine as Greene was unable to cut into the lead.
Pictured at top: Jaysen Hansen took the lead in the 75th Northern Ohio Professional Championship.