Brett Young Wins WPGA Player of the Year, Salvitti Junior POY, Knapp Senior POY
By WPGA • December 14, 2020
For the second time in three years, Bethel Park’s Brett Young has earned the title of WPGA Player of the Year. Young won twice in 2020, first at the 79th WPGA Four-Ball Championship at Chartiers Country Club – with partner Rick Stimmel – and later in the year at the 35th WPGA Mid-Amateur Championship hosted by Longue Vue Club. A week after his WPGA Mid-Amateur title, Young traveled across the state and captured the 27th Pennsylvania Middle-Amateur Championship crown. Coupled with his wins, Young posted a top-5 finish in the 120th WPGA Amateur Championship, a top-10 finish in the 117th WPGA Open Championship, and a top-15 finish in the 107th Pennsylvania Amateur Championship. Brett Young joins Nathan Smith, Sean Knapp, and Arnold Cutrell as the Association’s 4th multi-time winner.
The WPGA is also happy to name Canonsburg native Rocco Salvitti as the WPGA Junior Player of the Year. The sixteen-year-old’s breakout year was highlighted by a victory at the 100th WPGA Junior Championship, where he finished at 4-under. On the state level, he finished in a tie for 2nd at the Pennsylvania Junior Boys’ Championship. Salvitti’s stellar play did not waver on the national level, where he posted two top-10 finishes and two top-five finishes in AJGA events, including a T-4 finish at the AJGA Junior at Southpointe in Canonsburg, PA.
In the Senior Player of the Year race, a familiar name finished in the top spot, as Sean Knapp won that title for the fourth straight year. Knapp added to his spectacular WPGA Championship resumé with a nine-shot victory at the 89th WPGA Senior Championship to close the year. Knapp’s season also included a top-10 finish at the 35th WPGA Mid-Amateur Championship and a runner-up finish in the 61st Pennsylvania Senior Amateur Championship. Representing Team WPGA in the annual Palmer Cup at Latrobe Country Club, Knapp was the only player to win his two points for the day in his morning four-ball match and afternoon singles match.
The WPGA would like to sincerely congratulate each of our Player of Year Champions. We hope you look forward to the 2021 Championship Season as much as we do.
About the WPGA
Founded in 1899, the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association is the steward of amateur golf in the region. Started by five Member Clubs, the association now has nearly 200 Member Clubs and 33,000 members. The WPGA conducts 14 individual competitions and 10 team events, and administers the WPGA Scholarship Fund.