125th WPGA season begins with two competitions next week
By Josh Rowntree, Director of Communications • April 16, 2024
The Western Pennsylvania Golf Association (WPGA) is gearing up to host its first two golf competitions of the 2024 season. On April 29th, Valley Brook Country Club will host the WPGA Spring Stroke Play Championship, followed by the WPGA Senior Series #1 on April 30th at Nemacolin Country Club.
WPGA Spring Stroke Play Championship - April 29, Valley Brook Country Club
The season’s first event, the Spring Stroke Play Championship, has traditionally brought out many of the region’s top amateur golfers for an early test.
A year ago, a thrilling final round unfolded at Nemacolin Country Club, with three players finishing at 3-under following the day’s second and final round.
In a playoff, it was Tanner Johnson who took the win on his home course, sinking a 25-plus-foot putt to birdie the first playoff hole, edging Rick Stimmel and current Notre Dame freshman Rocco Salvitti for the title.
Stimmel — now the United States’ top-ranked senior amateur — posted the lowest round of the competition, with a 64 over the final 18 holes.
Past champions of the event include current Masters Low Am finisher Neal Shipley (2021), three-time event winners Rick Stimmel and Sean Knapp and nine-time champion Nathan Smith.
The Spring Stroke Play Championship is a 36-hole, single day, stroke play event.
Live Leaderboard: Click here.
GGID: WPGASTROKEPLAY24
WPGA Senior Series #1 - April 30, Nemacolin Country Club
Nemacolin Country Club plays host to the first of three Senior Series events in 2024 on Tuesday.
This competition features three divisions: Senior, Super-Senior and Net Senior.
Last year, Diamond Run Golf Club was the host site for the event.
Bob Crnjarich, a Diamond Run member, took the Senior Division with a 3-under 69, topping Bill Lotus by five strokes.
The Super-Senior Division went to Vince Zachetti with 1-over 73, as he edged Michael McGuire and Sam Berkovitz by two strokes.
And the Net Senior Division was claimed by Randall Jarrett with an impressive 7-under 65, a six-stroke victory over Jeffrey Wilkins.
The format for this Senior Series event is 18 holes of stroke play for each of the three divisions, with a limit of 42 players in each Division. The Committee reserves the right to select the most representative field.
Two more Senior Series Events will be played this summer, with Series #2 on July 16 at The Links at Spring Church in Apollo, which will be the first time the event will be played with Stableford scoring. Series #3 is scheduled for September 17 at Totteridge Golf Club in Greensburg.
For more information on the WPGA Senior Series competitions, click here.
Live Leaderboard: Click here.
GGID: 24WPGASENIORSERIES1
For media inquiries, please contact WPGA Director of Communications Josh Rowntree.
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 nearly 37,000 members. The WPGA conducts 14 individual competitions and 10 team events, and administers the WPGA Scholarship Fund and Western Pennsylvania Golf Hall of Fame.