Johnson's, Garbin's victorious in Father & Son, Parent & Child
By Josh Rowntree, Director of Communications • July 16, 2024
FOX CHAPEL — Like any good father, Brent Johnson knows that equally sharing your time with your children is important.
Equally sharing wins with them is something he didn’t exactly see coming.
Johnson and his son, Parker, took the 100th WPGA Father & Son Tournament Monday at Pittsburgh Field Club, shooting a 1-under 70 and outlasting two other teams in a five-hole playoff.
For Brent, it’s the second time he has won the event — but the first with Parker.
In 2019, Brent took the Father & Son Tournament at Cranberry Highlands with his oldest son, Tanner.
“I’m completely in shock,” said Brent, who has battled back issues recently. “We both really haven’t played too much. This is just my second competitive round this year… It’s very cool to win with both.”
Parker, a recent Robert Morris graduate, shared his father’s surprise.
“We were kind of going out here saying ‘whatever happens happens, just go and have fun and enjoy the day.’”
Rod and Nathan Piatt, as well as Dave and Jim Roberts, also finished 1-under, but fell in a playoff that concluded as the sun was setting on a hot and windy day in Fox Chapel.
The Pittsburgh Field Club — in pristine shape despite the blistering temperatures of recent weeks — provided a tough challenge.
“It’s one of Pittsburgh’s best,” said Brent. “It’s been a while since I’ve been here. It brings back some memories. I’ve never really played well here, to be honest with you. I have a love-hate relationship. But this made up for all of the trouble I’ve had in some other rounds.”
For the Venetia, Pa. natives, a chance to get on a course together seemed just as important as the glass trophies they carried out of the Field Club.
“I played with (Brent) the one other time he played this year,” said Parker. “It was the Fourth of July. It’s cool to get out here and play with your family, especially when you don’t get to play a lot with them.”
A dozen years ago, the competition expanded to a Parent & Child Net Division.
Thomas and Tom Garbin claimed victory in the Parent & Child Monday, shooting a Net adjusted 4-under.
“We had a double bogey on the first hole, said the elder Garbin. “But, after that, we just sort of settled down.”
His son chimed in: “We got some fortunate breaks. He’d hit a good one, then put the next one on. We chipped and putted really well, which is key around here.”
And they had to do it with extremely blustery conditions that, while not stopping play at any point, did slow it at times with gusts over 40 miles per hour.
“The wind was tough,” Tom Garbin said. “It was challenging. But, from our perspective, we thought it kind of helped to even things out. We’re middle handicap (players). The wind, we thought, may have helped us.”
The Garbin’s edged Andrew and Joe Bruce by two strokes.
Like the Johnson’s, they were happy to get a chance to play competitive golf together and prevail over a competitive field — complete with a unique twist in a Chapman format.
“It was really fun,” said Tom. “We weren’t sure how this would work, hitting the other ball. It worked out okay.
“It was a great event. We’ll be back.”
To see a live leaderboard for the Father & Son and Parent & Child Championships, click here (GGID: 24WPGAFATHERSON).
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.