Stimmel leads going into final round of Senior Amateur
By Mike Dudurich • September 19, 2023
What a first day of competition in the 92nd West Penn Golf Association Senior Amateur Championship!
For starters, nobody, yes, nobody, broke par. Thirty-five men above the age of 50 played 18 holes at Chartiers Country Club and the closest anyone finished to par was the leader, Rick Stimmel, who posted a one-over 71.
Seventeen seniors didn’t break 80 and those who did knew they had been in a battle when they walked off the 18th green.
Even Stimmel, who has had a terrific summer both regionally and nationally, had his moments.
He made bogeys on three of the first four holes and recovered with one birdie on the front nine to shoot 37. On the back, there were two two birdies and a bogey for a 34 that added up to a 71.
“The three bogeys on the front were stupid,” he said. “I missed a three-footer for par on the first hole and then 3-5 footers on the third and fourth. The greens had a little speed on them. You had to be really careful.”
Stimmel has a one-shot lead over Ralph Litrenta of Lawrence County e-Club and he’s two shots clear of Bill Rosemeyer of Butler Country Club and David Brown of St. Clair Country Club.
“That was a tough golf course out there today,” said Brown. “There were tough pins, and everybody had their share of tough putts. Even if you drive it long on this course, you could end up with a difficult wedge shot into the green. I don’t know, I think Rick is going to be hard to beat.”
Rosemeyer was a member at Treesdale for 24 years and, for the last five years, has belonged at Butler. He knows about strong golf courses, and he believes Chartiers CC is one of those.
“This place is in the best condition I’ve seen in my lifetime,” Rosemeyer said. “I played well today. I hit 15 greens, had 36 putts and I made two bad swings and made two double bogeys. I had six or seven looks inside 12 feet. So, my putting stats could have been much better.”
All eyes will be on the final group of Stimmel, Litrenta and Rosemeyer, which will hit the first tee at 11:20.
“I figured I had to get to even par going into the final round,” Stimmel said. “I don’t think anybody is going to go low here. Even par might well be a winner.”
In the Super Senior competition, Robert Hinish of Iron Masters Golf Club has a two-shot lead over Robert MacWhinnie of St. Clair Country Club.
Hinish got around Chartiers at even par, while MacWhinnie posted a 72.
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.