Swidzinski earns top spot at first WPGA Amateur Qualifier

May 15, 2024
By Josh Rowntree, Director of Communications

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VERONA — Wednesday’s WPGA Amateur Championship qualifying round — the first of three — showed that strong performances on the golf course can come at various stages of life.

The top finisher was Hunter Swidzinski, who shot a 2-under 69, navigating the sharp angles of Green Oaks Country Club.

“I kept my tee ball in play,” said Swidzinski. “They weren’t always perfect, but I just kept it in the fairway and gave myself easy pars. I had a lot of good two-putts, too.”

Swidzinski, a student at Butler High School who plays at Olde Stonewall and is committed to Longwood University in Virginia, was able to play Wednesday despite being in the process of closing out his senior year of academics.

First of three WPGA Amateur Qualifiers on deck

May 14, 2024
By Josh Rowntree, Director of Communications

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VERONA — The first of three WPGA Amateur Championship preliminary qualifying events is set for Wednesday at Green Oaks Country Club, as golfers from around the region begin their quest to win the William C. Fownes, Jr. Trophy.

The WPGA Amateur Qualifiers are single day, 18-hole stroke play competitions. Three qualifying events will take place, with competitions to follow on May 22 (The Country Club of Meadville) and June 5 (The Latrobe Elks Golf Club).

The field will be competing for the top 18 spots in order to qualify for the WPGA Amateur Championship. Two alternate spots will be claimed, as well.

WPGA begins celebration of 125th Anniversary

May 12, 2024
By Josh Rowntree, Director of Communications

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Founded on May 12th, 1899, the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association (WPGA) was formed by five founding clubs, Allegheny Country Club, Edgewood Country Club, Edgeworth Club, Pittsburgh Field Club, and the Pittsburgh Golf Club.

2024 marks the 125th Anniversary of the Association with celebrations scheduled to take place throughout the year, culminating at our Awards and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.

We encourage you to join us in celebrating this special anniversary this season.

We begin our celebration with a look at the WPGA’s beginning, its five founding clubs and the historical home of the Association’s offices and museum.

Saint Francis golfer printing unique story

May 11, 2024
By Josh Rowntree, Director of Communications

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They say you can’t be a lover and a fighter. But Caleb DeBass is living proof that you can, in fact, be both.

DeBass grew up in the octagon, competing in mixed martial arts and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in an attempt to satisfy a hunger to fight. But out of the ring, DeBass found some other activities that peaked his interests and were, well, far less violent.

One of those was golf, an outlet to continue to athletically compete in a sport based on individualism and, eventually, in a college setting.

“I’ve always done MMA my whole life, that was my main sport,” says DeBass, a native of Forest, Virginia who has a powerful 6-foot-3 frame that you might expect from an MMA fighter.

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