Warden wins rain-delayed WPGA Junior Championship
By Mike Dudurich & WPGA • June 14, 2021
Mike is a freelance writer and host of The Golf Show on 93.7 The Fan Saturday mornings from 7-8 AM. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeDudurich.
It was a beautiful but windy June afternoon at Willowbrook Country Club, tucked away in a picturesque area not far from Apollo.
And then right on time, it wasn’t such a beautiful day.
And then things got a little messy in the 101st West Penn Golf Association’s Junior Championship.
As predicted, a strong thunderstorm pummeled the course for over 2 hours. The WPGA staff had its collective eyes on their phones, watching the progress of the storm and at 3:15, the players were called off the course. Not long after, wind, rain and thunder replaced birdies, pars and bogeys and the event ground to a standstill until 5:30 when play resumed.
Willowbrook CC stood up to the onslaught and was judged to be played, even though it was wet in places.
The players moved along at a good pace and seven completed their second round before a second storm swept through the area. The remainder of the field had to return to Willowbrook to complete the event the next day.
Through it all, Pittsburgh Field Club’s Weston Warden prevailed. After birdies on 13 and 16, he found himself in a playoff against 14-year-old and Willowbrook Country Club member, Wes Lorish. Both players finished the Championship with a two-round total of 5-over, 149. All it took was one hole for Warden to come out on top and join a list of Junior Champions that includes Arnold Palmer.
Chase Crissman finished 3rd, Michael Wareham finished 4th, and Owen Delaney rounded out the top 5. This year was the first time Willowbrook Country Club has hosted the storied WPGA Junior Championship, and there is no doubt it stood up to western Pennsylvania’s top junior players.
The WPGA will be back in action June 28th at Wildwood Golf Club for the 97th playing of the WPGA Father & Son Tournament and the 9th WPGA Parent & Child Net Tournament.
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.