Two sides advance to U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship at Chambers Bay

September 28, 2020
By Mike Dudurich

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It’s a long way from Apollo, Pa. to University Place, Washington, nearly coast to coast.

But that’s OK for a couple Pittsburgh area golfers who qualified to make that trip Monday. In a qualifier for the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball championship, Andrew Hodge and Evan Ruhling, tied for medalist with a round of 64 and qualified for the national event next May at Chambers Bay.

Yes, that Chambers Bay, the one that provided a less-than-Open-like challenge for the U.S. Open in 2015.

“I know Chambers Bay had some issues in that U.S. Open, but I’ve played it since and things have changed there,” Ruhling, who’ll be competing for the first time in a USGA event, said. “The greens were fescue and they’ve been changed to bent grass. I thought it was a good golf course.”

Team WPGA falls to Tri-State Section in 2020 Palmer Cup Matches

September 19, 2020
By Mike Dudurich

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LATROBE – Last year, heading into the Palmer Cup matches, the West Penn Golf Association’s amateurs were riding high in the annual Palmer Cup matches against the Tri-State PGA professionals.

They had won six straight against the Tri-State and led 3-2 after the morning matches. But sometime between the last morning match and the beginning of the afternoon matches, something happened and the Tri-State has been on a roll ever since.

The pros rolled and won going away. That scenario played out again Thursday at Latrobe Country Club as Tri-State won, 3-2 in the morning four-balls and won the afternoon singles matches, 8 ½ -1 ½, to win the Palmer Cup easily, 11 ½-3 1/2.

Young claims Mid-Amateur Championship

September 9, 2020
By Mike Dudurich

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VERONA – The act of finishing off a victory in a major championship, at whatever level, is never easy. Just ask any professional golfer who has been in that position and they’ll tell you just that. And there are plenty of stories about pros who haven’t been able to handle all that goes into that process.

On a hot and still day at Longue Vue Country Club Tuesday, it wasn’t particularly easy for anyone competing in the 35th West Penn Mid-Am. Especially those who were in contention for the title throughout the 36-hole day.

Four players finished under par, one at even par. The biggest lead of the day was two shots and was held at various times by Rick Stimmel and Kevin Koerbel. In the end, Brett Young wasn’t one of those with a lead of two shots.