Palmer Jackson hitting his tee shot on #16.

Jackson finishes 3rd in 83rd Sunnehanna Amateur
By Mike Dudurich • June 15, 2024


WESTMONT – There was sentiment at Sunnehanna Country Club Saturday that a real Western Pennsylvania presence could be felt in the 83rd Sunnehanna Amateur’s final round.

And when the final putt had been holed, there was.

Except that it wasn’t the presence that was hoped for.

The most direct way for Western Pennsylvania to shine would have been for Palmer Jackson to have followed up his seven-under par performance Friday with another low round to win Saturday.

He couldn’t do that, however, shooting 68 that led to a third-place finish.

But Western Pennsylvania did get some props when Ben Warian, a recently graduated University of Minnesota student posted a final round of 64 to win. What’s the Western Pa. connection?

Well, the coach of the Gophers is Justin B. Smith, a Franklin, Pa. native who spent some time on golf courses around the area in his time.

Smith’s name came up during a conversation with Warian following his win. Like many players every year, Warian had not seen the property before arriving early in the week.

“Well coach Smith helped with that,” Warian smiled. “Helpful things like not leaving any shots above the hole on these greens.”

Warian put together rounds of 65-71-67-64 and disappeared to a degree as a result of the 71. He came back a little on Friday and stormed to the top on Saturday.

“This means the world to me,” he told the crowd after accepting the trophy following his 6-birdie, no bogey round. “The whole week was tremendous. I am honored and humbled to be your champion.”

When the final round began Jace Summy, Jackson and Max Herendeen were in the final group but as the round progressed, none were able to hold off the onslaught of Warian. He started the day three shots behind Herendeen but kept making birdies as the others struggled.

Jackson hung in there but could never take control.

“My grip is very important to my game,” he said. “If it’s a little bit off, they my whole pattern changes. And then trajectory and distance and even spin changes. Today was the third straight day that I birdied 1 and 18. But I needed to make more putts.

“I did some good things, but I’ve always heard that to contend you have to play at 80 percent and if you want to win you have to play at least 90 percent,” he said. “I was closer to 80 today.”

Jackson will play next week in the Northeast Amateur.

His former teammate at Notre Dame, Rocco Silvitti, shot a final round 72 and finished in a tie for 35th.

“I didn’t make enough putts,” he said. “I hit a lot of fairways and a lot of greens. I just didn’t execute. I made 58 pars in 72 holes. It’s hard to win that way.”

J.F. Aber, in his first Sunnehanna Amateur, finished at 3-over par after a final-round 72.

Chuck Tragesser, also in his first Sunnehanna appearance, put up three solid rounds, 73, 69, 70, but struggled in Saturday’s round with an 83.

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.