The 104th Ohio Open Championship is set for June 30-July 2 at Firestone Country Club in Akron.
A total of 288 golfers are scheduled to play with 133 professionals and 155 amateurs in the field. Golfers from 108 municipalities and 44 of Ohio’s 88 counties are accounted for in the tournament that is conducted by the Northern Ohio Section of the Professional Golfers Association of America, which assumed control of the Open in 1983.
The tournament features 54 holes of stroke play on three courses at Firestone. Half the field will play the Fazio Course on the first day while the other half plays the North Course. The fields will swap courses for the second day. The golfers with the lowest 60 scores plus ties will qualify for the final round to be played on the South Course.
“We are delighted to bring the 2025 Ohio Open Championship to the storied grounds of Firestone Country Club,” NOPGA Executive Director David Griffith said in a statement. “Firestone’s history and its challenging layouts provide the perfect stage for Ohio’s top players to showcase their skills, and we are excited to offer the competitors and fans an unforgettable championship experience.”
When does the Ohio Open Championship begin at Firestone Country Club in Akron?
Tee times on Monday, June 30 and Tuesday, July 1 on both the North and Fazio courses are from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Tee times on Wednesday, July 2 for the final round on the South Course begin at 8 a.m.
Tee times and pairings can be found on the NOPGA web site at thenorthernohiopga.com, where assorted historical Ohio Open information can be found, too.
Are spectators allowed at the Ohio Open?
Admission to the Ohio Open is free and the event open to the public to attend.
Drew Salyers is the Ohio Open defending champion
Drew Salyers, a native of Howard, is the Ohio Open defending champ after winning at Westfield Country Club last year. Salyers shot 67-65-68—203 (10-under) to win by one shot over three other golfers — Jake Scott of Strongsville (66-68-67—201), Paul Wackerly of Minerva (71-64-66—201) and two-time Ohio Amateur champion Andrew Bailey of Shaker Heights, (71-62-68—201).
Salyers is on the Korn Ferry Tour, but is set to play in this year’s Ohio Open at Firestone.
The Ohio Open returns to Firestone Country Club in Akron
The Ohio Open Championship returns to Firestone Country Club for the first time in 63 years. Willoughby’s Bob Shave Jr. won in 1962 and Toledo’s Frank Stranahan won in 1961. The tournament has been held on more than 60 courses at 56 clubs throughout Ohio. Tam O’Shanter Golf Course in Canton played host to the event 15 times (1989-2002), the most of any venue.
“We are thrilled to welcome the Ohio Open Championship to Firestone Country Club in 2025,” PGA member and Director of Golf at Firestone Dale Davis said in a statement. “Hosting this prestigious event is an honor, as it showcases some of the finest golf talent in Ohio on our iconic courses. We look forward to providing an unforgettable experience for the players, spectators, and the entire Ohio golf community.”
The Ohio Open started in 1921 at Toledo Country Club when Grange Alves, a long-time professional at Acacia Country Club, was the first champion.
Golf legends such as Jack Nicklaus have won the Ohio Open
The Ohio Open is regarded as the state championship and has been won by golf legends, such as Jack Nicklaus in 1956, Byron Nelson in 1940-41-42, Herman Keiser in 1951, Tom Weiskopf in 1965, Denny Shute in 1929-30-31-50 and Billy Burke in 1938-39-45-55.
Nicklaus won 18 major titles on the PGA Tour, including six Masters, five PGAs, four US Opens and three British Opens.
Stranahan won the last of his three Ohio Open titles in 1961 at Firestone and Shave won the second of his three Ohio titles in 1962 at Firestone. Stranahan won six times on the PGA Tour and Shave Jr. played six years on the PGA Tour.
Which golfers have won multiple Ohio Open Championships
There are two golfers with four Ohio Open titles, seven golfers with three Ohio Open titles and eight golfers with two Ohio Open titles. Here is the list:
Michael Beaven can be reached by email at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com and is on Twitter at @MBeavenABJ.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Ohio Open returns to Firestone Country Club | What to know about the 2025 golf tournament
Reporting by Michael Beaven, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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