Sunday, July 15, 2001
Celebrity Classic crowded at top
2 pros, 2 ams tied for lead
By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MASON — It's crowded atop the leaderboard at the Fifth Third/Fox 19 Celebrity Classic. Pros Tom Bach and Rick Witt and amateurs David Macke and Tim Donovan all shot 3-under-par 69s Saturday on the first day of the two-day, 36-hole event at The Golf Center at Kings Island.
But the guy who was one back is probably worth watching in today's final 18 holes. Rob Gerwin, fresh off wins in the Met and Ohio Amateur, shot 70. He was tied for second with pro Bob Hauer.
Gerwin limped in — as the fatigue of two major local tournaments in three weeks caught up with him.
“I was a little tired,” he said. “I bogeyed 16 and 17 and missed a short birdie putt at 18. That accounts for a lot of shots.”
But Gerwin, 34, a salesman from Turpin Hills, likes his position. “I've got a chance (today),” he said.
For much of the day, a familiar name was at the top of the leaderboard: Johnny Bench, the Hall of Fame catcher and one of the forces along with Cris Collinsworth behind the tournament.
Bench went into the lead briefly and then gave it up.
“I kind of threw up on my shoes on No.18,” Bench said.
He hooked his drive out of bounds and took a double-bogey 7. That coupled with a bogey on 16 dropped him into a tie for 11th.
Another former Red, Chris Sabo, was also at even-par 72, as were top amateurs Jim Volpenhein and Carl Tuke Jr.
They were one ahead of Brett Slater, Larry King and Sonny Rinala, who shot 1-under 71s.
The Classic serves as an unofficial local championship as it is open to both pros and amateurs. Sixteen of each are invited to the tourney. “It's a great event,” said Bach, the pro at Sharon Woods. “I was fortunate enough to play last year. I didn't play very well. But it was a great time.”
“I think the Marquis de Sade did the pin placements,” Bench said. “I play every year in the Kroger Senior Classic, and the pins are nothing like this.”
Celebrity Classic golf results
The perils of broadcasting live
Five Questions with: Jimmy Kimmel
Check out our Tristate golf guide for a directory and features on local courses, tournament coverage and other news.
Sports Stories
Reds 6, Indians 5
Rijo allows 2 runs in Triple-A start
Same old Sabo
Ten Reasons Why Reds Fans Loved Sabo
Casey to have MRI on injured ankle
Fan's eye view of the Reds
Graves' defense saves Reds
What's wrong with Rocker?
Reds-Tigers Scouting Report
Reds box, runs
QB job Kitna's to lose
LeBeau planning to make early mark
Bengals training camp information
Celebrity Classic crowded at top
