NILES — The opening weekend of the Niles City Golf Tournament at Plym Park crowned three champions.

On Friday, Wyatt Fazi won the Junior Division championship by one shot, while on Sunday, Paul Krause won his first Senior Division title. Mary Jane Lorance rallied from a nine-stroke deficit to unseat defending champion Cathy Daniels.

Tom Mollison was the Senior A Flight champion. It was this third overall city title.

Paul Krause

Tom Mollison

Mary Jane Lorance

Lorance trailed Daniels, who won the previous two city titles, by nine strokes heading into the second round on Sunday.

Lorance, playing in her first city tournament, improved her score by 10 strokes to shoot 84 and overtake Daniels, who shot a 98 on Sunday after an opening round 85 on Saturday.

Lorance finished with a 178 and Daniels a 183. Candy Seals was third with a 189.

“I came in knowing what I had to do and I relaxed,” Lorance said. “I have not played here in four years, but I got off to a good start. On No. 1 I hit it down the middle and put it on in two. I just put me in the right state of mind.”

Lorance said that her playing partners also helped her relax and have fun.

“I played with great people,” she said. “I had a great time.”

Mollison, a former Senior A Flight champion, shot 80 in the opening round and 83 on Sunday to finish with a 163.

“The golf course is turning hard and that helps me because the ball roles quite a bit,” Mollison said.

Plym Park, like many businesses in Niles, was affected by the flood. On hole No. 3, the players were allowed to lift, clean and replace, but Mollison said there was no need.

“I had a perfect lie on that hole so I did not have to,” he said.

Tim Howard and Rick Kidwell were second and third respectively with scores of 172 and 173.

Krause, who was playing in just his second Senior Division tournament, shot 71 and 72 to finish with a 143, which was seven strokes better than runner-up David Hinegardner, who shot 150.

Terry Churchill was third with a 153.

Krause, a three-time city tournament champion, missed playing against defending champion Mike Brown, who did not participate in the 2018 event.

“He would have been great competition,” Krause said. “He and I are always competing against each other.”

Krause faces certain challenges in playing in the Senior Division that he will not face this weekend when he competes in the Championship Flight.

“Seniors is different because I cannot always hit a full drive like I normally would,” he said. “I have to be careful and hit a cut shot because it is easier to go out-of-bounds. Next weekend will be easier for me because I can take a full swing.”

Registration continues for the final weekend of the tournament. Deadline to enter is Wednesday. Cost is $20.

Junior Division

Fazi captured the Niles City Golf Tournament Junior Division championship as he shot 41 at Plym Park Friday.

Alan Wegner was the runner-up as he finished a stroke behind Fazi with a 42.

NILES CITY GOLF

At Plym Park

Junior Division

Wyatt Fazi 41

Alan Wegner 42

Murphy Wegner 58

Dean Wegner 58

Women’s Division

Mary Jane Lorance 94-84-178

Cathy Daniels 85-98-183

Candy Seals 95-94-189

Jackie Rininger 104-107-211

Rose Prenkert 111-112-223

Jamie Moody 106-97-203

Senior Division

Championship Flight

Paul Krause 71-72-143

David Hinegardner 74-76-150

Terry Churchill 72-81-153

David Hopper 75-81-156

Curt McKenzie 79-80-159

Fred Knutel 80-80-160

Randy Mace 80-79-159

Dale Peebles 80-81-161

Dave Daniels 82-80-162

Will Townsley 80-83-163

Ed McKeel 82-83-165

A Flight

Tom Mollison 83-80-163

Tim Howard 90-82-172

Rick Kidwell 85-88-173

Charles Stewart 92-89-181

Paul Chimenti 95-88-183

Bill Martin 96-96-192

Jeff Nash 98-98-196

Kenny Truesdale 100-113-213

Bob Grenier 107-106-213