TROY — Ryan Groff got his summer of Miami County men’s golf tournament’s off to a good start.

Groff scorched Miami Shores for a 6-under par 66 Saturday and followed it with a one-under par 71 Sunday to win the Troy City Golf Championship by eight strokes.

“The City, the (Miami Shores) Club Championship and the County are all big tournaments for me,” Groff said. “I really wanted to defend my title this weekend.”

The 66 on Saturday opened a six-shot lead over Justin Weber and Matt Maurer, who had carded even-par 72s.

“It is one of the best tournament rounds I have had in a long time,” Groff said. “I putted really well today. One of the keys was I made a few long putts I normally don’t make.”

Groff started with a two-under par 34, before catching fire on the back wit ha four-under par 32.

Groff birdied the par-5 fourth hole and par-4 eighth hole to go with seven pars on the front.

“The front nine greens are always tougher,” Groff said. “I know one of the things Kyler (Miami Shores PGA Professional Kyler Booher) likes to do it set the course up tough on Saturday. So, I just tried to not short (short side) myself. I played to the center of the greens and just let my putting handle it from there.”

Groff, who had a two shot lead going to the back nine, birdied the par-4 11th, par-3 12th, par-5 15th and par-4 16th and had no bogeys on the day.

“I just tried to keep the birdies coming,” Groff said. “I hit the ball really well today and putted well.”

On Sunday, Groff overcame a slow start.

“I was playing a little too conservative,” Groff said. “I had three putts on two of the first four holes.”

He countered that with birdies on the par-4 eighth and ninth holes to shoot an even-par 36 on the front nine and followed it with a one-under par 35 on the back nine.

“I wanted to try and shoot around par,” Groff said. “I wasn’t really focused on anyone else. I was just thinking about what I was doing. Justin (Weber) birdied eight and nine and I was able to match that so I still had a six-shot lead going to the back nine. I played well this weekend.”

Weber followed Saturday’s 72 with a 73 to finish second with 145.

David Herbenick had matching rounds of 74 for a 148 total to finish third.

Brian Robbins had rounds of 78 and 73 for a 181 total to finish fourth and Maurer followed his 72 with an 80 for a 152 total to finish fifth.

Seniors

Mike Curtis, Jeff Poettinger and Jason Thompson shared the lead after opening round 74s Saturday.

Thompson shot another 74 Sunday for a 148 total to win by three shots over Curtis, who carded a 77 for a 151 total.

Poettinger took third with rounds of 74 and 80 for a 154 total.

Three players share the lead in the Super Seniors after carding two-over par 74s.

Jeff Poettinger had a one-under par 35 on his front nine on the way to 74.

Also carding 74 were Jason Thompson and Mike Curtis.

Curtis had an even-par 36 on the front, while Thompson carded matching 37s on the front and back.

Jim Howard took fourth with rounds of 78 and 77 and Dave Gregorovic was fifth after rounds of 79 and 82.

Super Seniors

Jim Ross shot rounds of 76 and 73 for a 149 total and a two-shot victory in the Super Seniors.

Darrell Tron had rounds of 74 and 77 for a 151 total to take second.

Rolf Dickens had rounds of 78 and 75 to finish third with a 153 total.

Tying for fourth were Rick Szabo and John Mutschler.

Szabo had rounds of 79 and 75 and Mutschler had rounds of 78 and 76,

Super Duper Seniors

Jack Holtel shot rounds of 76 and 79 for a 155 total and two-shot victory over Gary Weaver in the Super-Duper Seniors.

Weaver had rounds of 78 and 79.

Dennis Wyne took third with rounds of 81 and 82 for a 163 total.

First Flight

Jeff Jennings shot rounds of 78 and 79 for a 157 total to win the first flight by five shots.

Bob Rohr and Ty Nimer tied for second with a 162 total.

Rohr had rounds of 80 and 82 and Nimer had rounds of 83 and 79.

Jeff Bacon finished fourth with rounds of 85 and 78 for a 163 total and Derek Tubbs was another stroke back after matching rounds of 82.