A true farewell homecoming is underway for Summit County golfer Ryan Armour, as he played professionally for the first time at Firestone Country Club during the 2026 Kaulig Companies Championship.
This is the final year for the event at Firestone before it moves to California next season with a new sponsor.
“My heart is full, I’m very fortunate that they gave me a spot,” Armour said after Round 1 on Thursday, July 9. “I’m excited to be here. I want to play.”
The 50-year-old Armour, who now lives in Jupiter, Florida, has himself on the leaderboards. His first-round 2-under-68 puts him in a tie for ninth heading into Round 2. Jerry Kelly leads with a 65.
Armour is from Silver Lake and graduated from Walsh Jesuit High School and Ohio State. He grew up going to Firestone all the time as a kid.
After returning to golf following a two-year break, Armour calls it a ‘dream come true’ to not only get an opportunity to play in his hometown, but to get to do it for the first time at age 50.
“My wife keeps saying ‘You get to do all these things you never did.’ I’m like, I don’t know, it just happened to fall this way,” Armour said.
Coming off a tie for 26th in the U.S. Senior Open last weekend at Scioto Country Club near Columbus, Armour is soaking up every moment at Firestone this week.
But when the tournament is over, his time in Northeast Ohio is far from over.
His 15-year-old son is taking his hockey talents to Gilmour Academy in August and he has family living throughout the Akron area.
“My parents still live in Silver Lake, my brother lives in Stow, my in-laws live in Cuyahoga Falls, my whole family is here,” Armour said.
Why is the tournament leaving Firestone?
On May 26, the PGA announced that the Senior Players Championship will move from Firestone Country Club to the Newport Beach Country Club in Newport Beach, Calif., starting in 2027.
For Armour, though, he believes to save Firestone’s legacy, Akron needs to step in.
“Akron has to save it, the community itself, the people have to support the event,” he said. “I think when you look back at the history of this place, people need to be here.”
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Silver Lake native Ryan Armour enjoys first chance to play Firestone as a pro
