With brother on bag, Martin moves into lead of Ohio Am

Staff photo by Jim Witmer Alex Martin of Liberty Twp. in action during Thursday's round of the Ohio Amateur at the Moraine Country Club.

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By Doug Harris, Staff Writer Updated 8:56 PM Thursday, July 16, 2009

KETTERING — Although many golfers are carrying their own bags in the 103rd Ohio Amateur, Alex Martin has had his younger brother, Charlie, caddying for him. And letting a sibling tag along has been a distinct advantage.

“It’s been nice having my brother out there,” Alex Martin said. “We kind of just sit out there and talk about everything and anything but golf. It’s kind of nice to keep the mind off it.”

The 20-year-old Indiana University senior may have a tougher time keeping up the idle chatter during the final round today, July 17, after vaulting into a tie for the lead with a 2-under-par 70, the low score of the third round.

Like others, Martin was flummoxed by the windy conditions and linoleum-like greens at Moraine Country Club, but he birdied the last two holes to surge to the top.

“This course is really about placing the ball below the hole, and it was hard to do that with the wind changing,” he said. “It was playing tricks on you. You just had to grind out those mistakes.”

Grabeman’s last hurrah

Kevin Grabeman, a 23-year-old former Springboro High School and Ohio State golfer who now lives in Centerville, shot a 73 and is tied for fifth, just four strokes back.

He likes his chances today.

“No lead is safe out there,” he said. “The greens will be slick and hard. You have to hit in the right places. It will be precision golf. If you start rolling the rock, anything can happen.”

Regardless of how Grabeman fares, he’ll start a new job at a Kettering insurance company Monday.

“It’ll be a change of pace going from playing golf every day,” he said. “I’ll be working and having to fit golf in.”

Boyer battling

Oakwood’s Ben Boyer, who will be a junior at the University of Toledo this year, birdied two of the last four holes for a 75. He’s tied for 16th, eight shots back.

“It was tough, real tough,” he said. “The wind was howling, swirling all over the place.”

Ex-Flyer advances

Former University of Dayton star Rob Chappell shot a 74 and is tied for eighth, six strokes back. Four current UD golfers failed to advance when the field was cut to the low 40 players and ties.

Chris Woeste, an Alter High School grad, was in contention at 3-over-par 147 at the halfway point but shot a bloated 82. Michael Oberschmidt (77), Jeff Hodapp (79) and Matt Buse (82), all from Cincinnati, also were eliminated.

Maybe Woeste missed his caddie, new Flyer coach Gip Hoagland, who was on the junior’s bag for the second round but wasn’t available Thursday.

OGA likes Moraine

Moraine has hosted the Ohio Am every 10 years since 1979, and the Ohio Golf Association would like to come back in 2019 if the club offers its course again.

“There’s nothing as far as a formal decision for ’19, but we wouldn’t ever turn down an invitation from them,” said Jim Popa, executive director of the OGA. “It’s one of our favorite places.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2125 or at dharris@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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