Second round action completed Tuesday at The Ohio Open and it looked a lot like the first round at Westfield Group Country Club.
The Open is a three-day, 72-hole tournament and is being played for the 102nd time, but it might as well be a playground for Greater Akron/Canton area golfers.
The tournament ends Wednesday after the field was cut to the top 60, plus ties.
Here’s a look at what’s going on:
Who leads the Ohio Open after Round 2?
Cade Breitenstine is still at it. The Green graduate and 2021 Mid-American Conference Golfer of the Year posted back-to-back 64s and sits on top of the leaderboard at 12-under.
If he holds on, he’ll become the third straight area golfer to win the Ohio Open after Jordan Gilkison of Kent State won it last year and Lake graduate Jake McBride won it in 2021.
Who else is in contention at the Ohio Open and when do they tee off?
Former Cleveland State standout Michael Balcar sits three shots back and is tied with former Michigan star Nick Carlson. Hoban senior Jack Vojtko is five shots off the pace after shooting four-under on the North Course on Tuesday.
Kent resident Ian Hardesty is nine off the pace after rounds of 69 and 68.
Gilkison, former three-time All-Ohioan Nathan Tarter of Mogadore and Kent State assistant golf coach Kevin Yip are 10 back and in a seven-way tie for eighth.
Breitenstine, Balcar and Carlson will tee off at 11:30 am on the South Course. Vojtko leaves 10 minutes earlier. Hardesty and Gilkison tee off at 11:10 and Yip goes off at 11.
Who’s in the field at the Ohio Open?
There are 10 returning champions along with Gilkison and McBride. Others include Stephen Gangluff (Marysville, 2018-19), Chase Wilson (Newark, 2017), TT Crouch (Fredericktown, 2016), Tim Ailes (Delaware, 2014), Colin Biles (Columbus, 2013), Rob Moss (Broadview Heights, 2005, 2001, 1999), Chris Black (Lancaster, 1998) and Mitch Camp (Aurora, 1993, 1985).
Who has played in the Ohio Open in the past?
Short answer, the biggest names in golf. Long answer, Jack Nicklaus, Byron Nelson, Denny Shute, Billy Burke, Herman Keiser and Tom Weiskopf.
That’s 29 major winners, nine Masters champions, six US Open kings, five British Open champions and nine PGA Championship winners.
Contact Brad Bournival at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter at @bbournival
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cade Breitenstine leads 2023 Ohio Open after Round 2