Norton Brick has survived a variety of health-related issues that can cause a man's golf game to head south. But he was on his game Monday at Quail Hollow.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Over the last eight years, Norton Brick has survived two heart attacks, had his appendix removed, his left hip replaced and endured several other health-related issues that can cause a man's golf game to head south.
On Monday, the Elyria resident had 15 pars, two birdies and one bogey and his golf game was just fine during the opening round of the 80th annual Northeast Ohio Amateur Invitational on the Weiskopf Course at Quail Hollow Country Club.
"They keep putting holes in me and no one's apologizing," deadpanned Brick, 57, whose 1-under 70 gave him a four-shot lead over Solon's Jeff Knox in the Senior Division heading into Wednesday's second round at Aurora Country Club.
Brick, who sells the mowing equipment most courses use, is attempting to become the first to win both the Championship Division, which he won in 2004, and the Senior Division, which has been in existence since 1995.
Windham's Rob Schustrich is trying to win for the first time. His opening 69 gave him a one-shot lead over Medina's John Furlong and Lyndhurst's Jonathan Riemer in the Championship Division.
Schustrich, 44, said he has played in the last 14 Amateurs but is hoping to put together three solid rounds.
"It's always been one bad round that has killed me," he said after overcoming a ragged start in which he was 3 over after five holes but played the final 13 holes in 5 under.
No one in the field of 61 had a round quite like Furlong, whose 1-under 70 was an adventure. The Kent State junior was 2 over after three holes, thanks to a double-bogey 7 on the 581-yard first. After two pars, he went birdie, bogey, birdie, par, eagle, birdie to make the turn in 32.
The final 36 holes are next Monday at the Country Club of Hudson.