Tri-State Section retains Palmer Cup

September 20, 2022
By Mike Dudurich

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Six years after the man for whom the event is named after passed away, there’s still a specialness about earning a spot in the annual Palmer Cup matches for players from the Tri-State PGA and the West Penn Golf Association.

It’s has been and, most likely, will always be held at Latrobe Country Club, the course that has Arnold Palmer’s presence all over it. It’s also officially known as Arnold Palmer’s Latrobe Country Club, in case there was any doubt.

Many of those invited may have played Latrobe for other events or for casual rounds but many have also not played in this prestigious event. This year schedules of some of the best players made it possible for players, especially on the amateur side, to take part in this event.

Among those who fell into that category were: Tom Ballinger, Frank Blazewick, Bernie Hough, Tanner Johnson, Daniel Joseph, Tyler McElroy, Dennis Munko, Jack Ramsett, Clay Spangler, Nicholas Turowski, and Mike Wolfe.

Bangor wins second Mid-Amateur Championship

September 7, 2022
By Mike Dudurich

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The West Penn Golf Association’s Mid-Amateur championship has been played 36 times previously.

They have been played on great courses and great players have won the titles many times.

But it’s doubtful many of those equaled the 2022 event that played out over the awesome Fox Chapel Golf Club Tuesday, with a little extra golf on Wednesday morning.

The event is 36-hole test played in one day. That’s what it says on the WPGA schedule anyway.

The way it’s set up, groups remain the same for both rounds because there’s really not enough time to re-pair the players because the days are shorter and players in contention tend to slow down a bit as the pressure increases.

So, an interesting (and quirky) thing happened when Ian Bangor and Austin Lemieux were in a group with Paul Ajak for 36 holes. That became an important tidbit when Lemieux rifled a 250-yard 3-iron onto the 18th green. He 2-putted from above the hole, forcing a playoff. Swidzinski, the golf professional at Olde Stonewall Golf Course. “I like playing against an opponent instead of posting a score.”

Malosh wins first WPGA title

August 9, 2022
By Mike Dudurich

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Familiarity played a big role the 2022 West Penn Golf Association Girls’ Match Play Invitational at Latrobe Country Club.

Just like the 2021 match play event at Hannastown Golf Club, Marissa Malosh and Lihini Ranaweera played in the final group on the second day of the event. And after the last putt had dropped it was Ranaweera who won 2-up, thanks to birdies on the 13th and 14th holes.

Fast forward to 2022. There they were the same two girls in the finals on a stormy day at Arnold Palmer’s Latrobe CC. The morning semifinals went off without a weather hitch and the girls went off in the finals, getting to second green before the weather warning siren sounded. The boys were just about ready to go to the first tee when that siren sounded.

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