Tragesser again on top at WPGA qualifying event
By Josh Rowntree, Director of Competitions • June 26, 2024
Something about WPGA qualifying events seems to bring out the best in Chuck Tragesser, even if ‘best’ may not be the word he uses to describe his play right now.
Tragesser shot a 4-under 68 Wednesday in the 121st WPGA Open Championship Qualifying round at Willowbrook Country Club.
“The tee ball was pretty good,” Tragesser said. “Finding the fairways was important. I had a couple loose ones, but for the most part that was good.”
It’s the second time this year that Tragesser finished on top of a field at a WPGA qualifying competition, also doing so in the West Penn Amateur Championship qualifying round at Latrobe Elks Golf Club earlier this month.
That said, Tragesser doesn’t feel that his game has reached its pinnacle. At least not yet.
“I’d say I’m at like a B-minus right now, which is positive,” he said. “I can improve. I’m getting through these (qualifiers) and that’s all that matters. If I can peak at the tournament, that would be great.”
Tragesser is currently in the process of transferring from Rhode Island to Robert Morris, where he will be a redshirt sophomore for this coming season.
He’s performed well this summer in advance of that, including a 6-under 66 at Latrobe Elks. He followed that with a top ten finish in the 124th WPGA Amateur Championship and qualified Monday at Sunnehanna Country Club for the second stage of the U.S. Amateur Championship.
Two days later, he got to play on a far more familiar course in Willowbrook — his home club — and the knowledge of the track played a factor in his finish.
“It definitely helped,” he said. “I play here more than anywhere else. I know how many yards to add with the slopes in the fairways. I know the greens. It all helps.”
Tragesser edged former Penn State golfer Louis Olsakovsky, who shot a 3-under 69. Those two will join 23 others who qualified for the West Penn Open at Indiana Country Club July 22-24.
“Indiana’s cool,” Tragesser said. “I get out there maybe once or twice a summer. It’ll be good. That place can be a challenge, for sure. It’ll be nice.”
A playoff was used to determine the final four qualifiers and two alternates, with six players finishing at 4-over.
To see a full leaderboard for the qualifying round, click here.
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 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.