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SPRINGFIELD — Dan Schuler wouldn't call himself a favorite at this year's Springfield News-Sun/National Trail Parks and Recreation Department Men's City Amateur.

The first two rounds take place in two weeks (July 12-13), and Schuler knows golf is too strange a game for him to be too confident. But there's no doubt the 62-year-old Springfielder is on top of his game this summer.

Last week, June 23-24, Schuler fired a pair of 72s to win the Ohio Public Links Mid-Amateur State Championship at Chapel Hill Golf Course in Mount Vernon.

In May, Schuler tied for second at the Ohio Senior Open at Firestone Country Club in Akron with a 76-72—148.

Schuler credits his success to his decision to retire last year from his family-owned business, Schuler's Bakery in Springfield. His son Trent is now the sole owner of the business, and his other son Troy runs the daily operations.

"I just don't have the stress I had before," Dan Schuler said. "When you have 55 employees, there's a lot of pressure. There's always something going wrong. It's just a lot of headaches. After 40 years, I got tired of all the headaches."

Now Schuler gets to put in more time on the golf course. He plays from four to six times a week, mostly at Snyder Park because he can get in a game there every morning.

"Playing during the week with the guys, it definitely helps you feel, 'Maybe I can play well in the tournaments,' " Schuler said. "I got away from it for a while. I couldn't play for three years because I lost my amateur status. That really hurt me as far as tournament play."

Schuler, an eight-time City Am champ, finished fourth in the event last year. He last won the City Am in 1992. He turned pro at 50 and became an amateur again at 60.

Now, weeks away from his 63rd birthday, he's got momentum on his side. Playing in the last group on Tuesday, Schuler shot a 31 on the back nine to win by one stroke. He eagled the par-5 No. 10, using a 3 wood to hit his second shot from 277 yards away to within a few paces of the hole.

"I just ripped it," Schuler said. "(His son Troy) saw it and gave me the thumps-up. I said it must be close. I get up there, and I'm 6 feet from the hole."

Sectional qualifier

Springfield's Chip Knuckey finished 11th on Monday, June 23, in the U.S. Amateur Public Links Sectional Qualifier at Reid Park. Knuckey shot a 76-74—150.

Daniel Sorgini III of Pickerington shot a 70-69-139 to finish first and qualify for the tournament, which will be played at Murphy Creek Golf Course in Aurora, Colo. He will be joined by second-place finisher Zach Sebert of Grove City (71-69—140).

Event update

• The sixth annual Rosy's Invitational will be held at Windy Knoll Golf Club on Aug. 8. The field is limited to 30 teams, and 16 teams had signed up as of June 23.

The event honors the late Bob Rosencrans, a former Wittenberg athlete, coach and administrator.

Proceeds from the tournament benefit the ALS Association, which fights Lou Gherig's Disease, and also Wittenberg University and the Driving4Life Organization, which conducts research to find a cure for ALS.

For more information on registering or to sponsor a tee box, call John Wilkinson at 390-8898.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0351 or djablonski@coxohio.com.