WHEELING, W.Va. — The number of entries is up for this weekend’s Bordas & Bordas Amateur Golf Classic and the four-flight field appears wide open for the $10,000 purse at Oglebay’s Crispin Golf Course, June 8-9.
That leads to many storylines to watch in what tournament director Dan Tennant calls the oldest amateur tournament in the Ohio Valley.
One intriguing storyline centers on Wheeling resident Bryan Myers. Although Myers won the event both in 2010 and 2013, he finished second to Thadd Obecny II last year. In addition, he finished second to Jacob Nickell in 2017, tied for second to B.J. Tulodzieski in 2016, finished fourth in 2015 and finished second to Vinny Nadeau in 2014.
“I feel like this might be the year, actually,” Myers said confidently this week. “I’ve been playing a lot the last couple of weeks and feel it’s been going good.”
Nickell is another to watch. Aside from winning the 2017 title, the Wheeling Park graduate is a member of the University of Indianapolis golf team. The current sophomore Greyhound shot a two-day total of 130 in ‘17.
Avella, Pa., native Larry Lis, Jr., a three-time champion, is also back in the field. He won in 2002, ’05 and ’08. His father of the same name, a legendary Ohio Valley amateur, is back in the senior flight. Also, two-time champion Floyd Shuler is entered in the senior flight.
Although last year’s champ, Obecny II, isn’t in the field because he turned professional and is no longer eligible, Tennant is happy with the scheduled turnout.
“Right now we have 142 players,” Tennant said. “That’s up from last year. Also, we’re awaiting word from some players that have played for years. We’ve received entries from some I’ve never seen before.”
The event was started in the mid- to late-1930s, making it what Tennant calls one of the oldest nationally.
What really makes the Bordas event stand out, however, are the funds raised to give area youth summer access to Oglebay Park. The Oglebay Foundation’s Access to the Parks program is the beneficiary of the tournament. That allows local children who would not otherwise be able to afford to go to the park access to enjoy many activities throughout the summer months.
