Banish Comes From Behind to Win the Audi Memorial in a Playoff

Rich Banish used a final round of 73 to sneak into a playoff where he won on the first hole. The Beaver Meadows member claimed the 2026 SDGA Audi Memorial on Tuesday at his home club.

Related: Results

During the opening round, Robert Hughes (Thompson Park Golf Course) had the low round of the day shooting 72, even par. Last month Hughes won the NYS Super Senior Amateur Championship at Bellevue Country Club. He was aided by birdies on 4 and 8, a par 3, as well as an eagle on the par-5 12th hole on Monday. 

Michael Naton (Tuscarora Golf Club) was in solo second after day one after consecutive birdies on 15 and 16 for a round of one-over. Fellow Tuscarora member Tim McDermott also birdied 15 and ended Monday in third place. Banish was tied for sixth at four-over after being unable to find birdie in the first 18 holes. 

Banish undid the birdie-drought immediately in Round 2. With a shotgun start, he birdied his first hole of the day, the par-4 second. He also scored a 2 on the par-3 eighth hole. After twelve holes, Banish was five-over for the tournament while Hughes remained at even-par. 

Hughes, who started on hole 1, started to stumble on the 14th hole as he bogeyed the par-4. He proceeded to bogey the next four holes to get to five-over. Meanwhile McDermott and Naton went four and five-over respectively for the final five holes, knocking themselves out of contention. 

Banish on the other hand parred his last six holes to finish at five-over, earning a playoff with Hughes. The pair replayed the first hole to decide the championship. Banish continued his trend with par while Hughes found another bogey. The win marked the fourth SDGA title for Banish and his first in stroke-play.

McDermott finished in third place at six-over. There was a four-way tie for fourth place as Michael Naton, Jack Weinerth (Highland Park Golf Club), Thomas Fletcher (Tuscarora Golf Club), and Steve Berdan (McConnellsville Country Club) all finished at eight-over.