Sabo, Erickson, Petit win at Senior Series #1

April 30, 2024
By Josh Rowntree, Director of Communications

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BEALLSVILLE — Tuesday’s WPGA Senior Series #1 competition presented players with thick rough and afternoon rain at Nemacolin Country Club.

But, in the end, a trio of winners emerged from a field of 47 competitors over three divisions.

In the Senior Division, Craig Sabo of Champion Lakes Golf Course survived a late scare to post a 2-over 73. Sabo’s lead shrunk in the final three holes due to a bogey, double bogey and bogey to end his round — a common thread among all players down the stretch.

“I got to 17 and had a pretty big lead,” said Sabo, who has gone through four swing changes in the last few months. “I normally don’t like playing with a big lead. That’s the most difficult round to play, when you have a four of five-stroke lead.

“I doubled 17, hit a good drive on 18 but was in thick rough. I couldn’t get the 9 iron through the rough and left it 60 yards short. I pitched it up, made the two-putt and won by one stroke. I knew I needed a bogey and that’s what I did on the last hole.”

Through heat, O’Brien claims Spring Stroke Play Championship

April 29, 2024
By Josh Rowntree, Director of Communications

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MCMURRAY — Battling through heat that flirted with an all-time high set in the WPGA’s first year of existence in 1899, it was Kevin O’Brien who decided to heat up himself.

O’Brien ran away with the 31st WPGA Spring Stroke Play Championship Monday at Valley Brook Country Club, shooting a 7-under 137 to claim the WPGA’s first competition of 2024.

“I’ve never played this course before and didn’t even play a practice round,” said a happily surprised O’Brien Monday evening. “I looked at the course on Google Maps and on the card.”

The Wexford native and Pittsburgh Field Club member did the bulk of his damage in the opening 18 holes, shooting the day’s low round, a 5-under 67 during much cooler temperatures than the mid-80s that peaked on the thermometer in the afternoon.

125th WPGA season begins with two competitions next week

April 23, 2024
By Josh Rowntree, Director of Communications

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The Western Pennsylvania Golf Association (WPGA) is gearing up to host its first two golf competitions of the 2024 season. On April 29th, Valley Brook Country Club will host the WPGA Spring Stroke Play Championship, followed by the WPGA Senior Series #1 on April 30th at Nemacolin Country Club.

WPGA Spring Stroke Play Championship - April 29, Valley Brook Country Club

The season’s first event, the Spring Stroke Play Championship, has traditionally brought out many of the region’s top amateur golfers for an early test.

A year ago, a thrilling final round unfolded at Nemacolin Country Club, with three players finishing at 3-under following the day’s second and final round.

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