SYLVANIA, Ohio -- Justin Collins was

thisclose

to winning the 96th annual Ohio Amateur golf tournament.

The Ohio State Buckeyes senior-to-be from Ironton had a one-stroke lead heading into the final day of the oldest amateur tournament in Ohio.

But Collins shot a 2-over-par 74 on the 6,555-yard,

par-72 Sylvania Country Club and finished tied for fourth as Kevin Kornowa beat Michael Sabo on the first playoff hole to win the tournament.

''I didn't make enough putts,'' Collins said. ''You can't win if you don't make any birdies in the last round, can you?''

Kornowa shot a closing 68 Friday-- the lowest round of the day -- to force a playoff with

Sabo, then won as he registered a par on the first hole.

Jason Gerken, the Princeton-bound 17-year-old from Logan, was one shot back of Collins heading into the final day and shot a 72 to finish third. Collins shared fourth place with 37-year-old Westerville banker Michael Kelley at 282. Kelley had a 73 on the day.

Collins, Gerken and Sabo, a St. Louis native who played last year at Miami (Oh.) University, traded the lead back and forth for most of the final round.

Collins parred the first six holes to remain at 8-under, but Gerken overcame an early bogey with three birdies on the next seven holes for a one-shot lead.

Sabo didn't pull away, playing the last seven holes in even-par.

Collins -- who had 16 pars and two bogeys -- never recovered after a bogey at the 16th hole.

Gerken all but eliminated himself from the title trophy when he hit his approach shot short and to the left on the par-3 14th hole, then chipped 30 feet past the pin. Jim Walker/The Ironton Tribune