SOUTH BEND – Kevin Kowalski, the 2019 winner, shot an opening two-over-par 74 Saturday at Elbel Park Golf Course to grab the lead after the first round of the 36-hole Men’s Senior Metro golf championships.
Kowalski had a two-stroke lead over Steve Horvath in the two-day tournament which concludes Sunday at Erskine Park Golf Course. Another four golfers shot 77 — David Krizman, Richard Neher, Michael Robinson and Tell Williams.
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In the group at 79 is former champion Jim Shaw.
Kowalski birdied the 162-yard eighth hole and the 337-yard 12th hole at Elbel Park. His bogeys came at the 150-yard fourth, the 330-yard ninth, the 193-yard 13th and the 173-yard 17th holes.
Horvath’s round included three bogeys on Elbel Park’s front (Nos. 1, 4 and 5), a birdie at the 14thhole but a double bogey at the par-3 17th.
MEN’S SENIOR METRO GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS
SOUTH BEND – Results after the first round of the Men’s Senior Metro golf championships at the par-72 (36-36) Elbel Park Golf Course:
74: Kevin Kowalski 37-37.
76: Steve Horvath 39-37.
77: David Krizman 40-37, Richard Neher 38-39, Michael Robinson 38-39, Tell Williams 38-39.
79: Nicholas Mark 39-40, Joseph Miller 40-39, Marty Nash 40-39, Jim Shaw 42-37.
80: Brent Curtis 39-41, Alan Smith 41-39, Jim Van Fleit 39-41.
81: Aris Andrews 40-41, Dan Filchak 40-41, Mark Harman 40-41.
82: Craig Eggers 42-40, Jim Fraser 38-42, Kurt Wiseman 41-41.
83: John Forbes 41-42, James Gates 41-42, Kevin Swartz 41-42, Gary Tyler 41-42.
84: Stan Gebo 43-41.
85: Pat King 46-39, Walt Kroll 44-41, James Parker 39-46.
86: Don Bedock 45-41, William Harris 42-44, Jay Leeper 42-44.
87: John Heckaman 47-40.
89: Don Coddens 45-44, Scott Tafelski 44-45.
90: Keith Hodgson 46-44, Jerry Hopkins 47-43, Win Lindner 46-44.
93: Douglas Gale 43-50, Rich Horvath 45-48.
94: Douglas Edison 50-44.
95: Dale Garwood 44-51.
96: David Flock 53-43, Matt McGraw 49-47, Randy Sipress 50-46.
97: Carter Schrader 51-46.
99: Len Buszkiewicz 50-49.
104: Jim Chaney 54-50.
WD: Michael Orr, Mark Swaim, Robert Waldenmeyer
Sunday’s tee times
At par-70 (35-35) Erskine Park Golf Course
9 a.m.: Len Buszkiewicz, Jim Chaney
9:09: Douglas Gale, Randy Sipress
9:18: Walt Kroll, Don Coddens, Jerry Hopkins
9:27: Gary Tyler, Kevin Swartz, Stan Gebo
9:36: Jim Van Fleit, Kurt Wiseman, Jim Fraser
9:45: Steve Horvath, David Krizman, Richard Neher
9:54: Douglas Edison, Dale Garwood, Matt McGraw
10:03: William Harris, John Heckaman, Will Lindner
10:12: James Parker, Pat King, Jay Leeper
10:21: Mark Harman, Aris Andrews, John Forbes
10:30: Marty Nash, Jim Shaw, Alan Smith
10:39: Kevin Kowalski, Michael Robinson, Nicholas Mark
10:48: Rich Horvath, David Flock, Carter Schrader
10:57: Don Bedock, Scott Tafelski, Keith Hodgson
11:06: Dan Filchak, Craig Eggers, James Gates
11:15: Tell Williams, Joseph Miller, Brent Curtis
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: First round of South Bend Senior Metro Golf Tournament at Elbel Park