Titsworth claims second West Penn Open title
By Mike Dudurich • June 21, 2023
PITTSBURGH -- Beau Titswoth came to the first tee at Edgewood Country Club Wednesday with a two-shot lead over Mike Van Sickle going into the final round of the West Penn Open. An enviable position to be sure, but the 29-year-old former champion knew he had to focus and not let things get out of hand early.
Titsworth won the Open in 2019 at Valley Brook Country Club with a championship record 54-hole score of 200, one lower than the 201 he posted at Edgewood.
The little talk he had with himself obviously paid off because when he reached the 18th tee, that lead had grown to eight shots.
"An eight-shot lead on the 18th? I don't think I ever had one of those," he said. "So what did I do? I hit the tee shot out of bounds and made double bogey."
Obviously, the big lead helped Titsworth and made winning his second West Penn Open much easier.
His win was big for him off the course as well. As the 2023 champion, he is exempt into the next 10 WPGA Opens.
Titsworth set a goal for himself a few years ago.
"I said that if I hadn't made the (PGA) Tour by age 30, which will be at the end of the year, then it will be time to move on," Titsworth, who is in the insurance business, said. "With the check I won today ($6,290), I have my entry. If I get a couple more wins this year, I can afford to try to qualify!"
J.F. Aber, son of Allegheny Country Club professional John, finished in solo second after posting a round of 68 and earned both Low Amateur and runner-up honors.
It wasn't all sunshine and rainbows for Aber, however. He putted off the first green and hit the green in regulation on the second hole, but four-putted.
"A little bit of nerves, perhaps," he laughed. "I was able to get those under control and played pretty well the rest of the way."
He has making the PGA Tour on his list of things to do, but not before he graduates from Wittenberg College with a "nice degree" as he calls it in Finance and Data Science.
Mike Van Sickle was in hunt as the final round started but somehow managed to make bogeys on five of his first 12 holes to disappear from contention.
As he was waiting to give a lesson Wednesday, he asked, "Well, I'm here at the range and I have four putters around me. Does that give you an idea about how badly I putted today? It was awful."
Van Sickle tried to battle through the issues and he did finish with three birdies. But ...
"It got to the point where I was convinced I couldn't hit the ball close enough to make a birdie," he said. "Three feet didn't seem close enough. No doubt the confidence took a hit today."
Only six players were able to break par on a perfect day at Edgewood CC.
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 34,000 members. The WPGA conducts 14 individual competitions and 10 team events, and administers the WPGA Scholarship Fund and Western Pennsylvania Golf Hall of Fame.