A week of great golf and shared history concluded with an unforgettable shot and a first-time champion on July 15 as the final round of the 2023 RDGA District Championship John H. Ryan Jr. Memorial came to a close at Ravenwood Golf Club.
Capping off a week that included the second annual RDGA Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony with a tribute to some of the leading figures in the local golf community, was a memorable final round battle between some of the top men’s amateurs in the Rochester area.
Following Friday’s 36-hole cut to the low 40 players and ties, Saturday’s third and final round opened with one player – Jason Lohwater of Brook-Lea Country Club – in the lead through the first two days of competition.
Lohwater first grabbed the lead in Friday’s Round Two on the strength of a near-perfect day on the par-72 Ravenwood layout that included an eagle, six birdies and no bogies – for an 8-under-par 64 and a one shot lead heading into the final round.
On Saturday, Lohwater kept his foot on the gas as he added to his lead on the front nine with three birdies and one bogey to extend his lead to three shots and a 12-under-par total for the Championship.
Meanwhile, four players were surging to challenge Lohwater down the stretch.
Past District Champions Yarik Merkulov and Jim Scorse each took turns making a run for the lead – as did Oak Hill’s Alex Zurat and Locust Hill’s Kyle Downey – only to see late round bogies derail their chances.
Throughout the day, however, Lohwater remained unflappable.
A bogey on No. 10 was his last stumble, and as he teed off on the par-5 18th with a commanding two shot lead over Downey, he was faced with one last decision – lay up for an easy par, or go for the green for a possible birdie or eagle. Lohwater ultimately decided to stick to the style of play that had served him so well throughout the Championship – going for the green in two.
With over 220 yards to go, Lohwater’s second shot just cleared the greenside bunker at 18, as his ball closed to within feet of the pin, which was tucked away in the top right corner of the green. Minutes later, Lohwater drained his second putt for a birdie to close out a three-shot victory at 12-under-par 204 over 54 holes – and record the biggest victory in his RDGA career: the 2023 RDGA District Championship John H. Ryan Jr. Memorial title.
The victory ended a long wait for the 22-year-old Lohwater, whose previous RDGA title had been the 2016 RDGA Boys Junior Championship.
In between, there were several other Junior, Match Play and District Championship runs – as well as a successful Division I collegiate career in which he played for both Bucknell and Villanova.
On Saturday, however, Lohwater’s journey came full circle as his patience was rewarded with the ultimate victory on a course where he was introduced to the game as a member of the Ravenwood junior program.
This year’s RDGA Championship was a study in contrasts with the youngest to enter the starting field being 15-year-olds Barrett Paolini and Reid Wilson, ranging up to 73-year-old Dave Benedict.
Leading the senior contingent for the second consecutive year in the District Championship was 58-year-old five-time RDGA District Champion Jim Scorse. Scorse posted rounds of 66-70-73 for a 7-under-par 209 total to finish in a tie for fourth place with Yarik Merkulov and Philip Minnehan and win the medal for low senior player (age 55 and above).
Also recognized – for the eighth year in a row – was the recipient of the RDGA John Henry Ryan Gentleman in Golf Award. The award – which honors a local golfer, tournament official, or volunteer who best personifies the qualities espoused by the late Mr. Ryan, who dedicated his life to promoting and supporting local amateur golf – is annually voted on by his peers: the players in the starting field of each year’s District Championship. This year’s honoree was Ben Caruso of Brook-Lea Country Club.
In the end, it was another Brook-Lea golfer – Jason Lohwater – who also earned the respect of his fellow competitors in winning the 2023 RDGA District Championship title by not backing down and keeping up his high level of play throughout the entire Championship.
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