Fajt, VanSickle emerge from crowded leaderboard in round two
By Mike Dudurich • July 23, 2024
INDIANA, PA – Sometimes things just work out.
An historic golf event like the 121st West Penn Open deserves a finish befitting the championship and, after the first two rounds, the stage is set for that in today’s final round.
Twenty players took advantage of a nearly perfect day at Indiana Country Club to post under-par rounds on Tuesday. That means 17 of the 34 survivors go into the last round are under par.
Mike Van Sickle has assumed the top spot on the leaderboard after he produced the low round of the tournament, 65.
“I’ve been playing pretty well, pretty consistently,” Van Sickle, a West Penn Open champion in 2013 and 2015, said. “I’ve won a couple things, finished second in a few. So, I guess you could say this wasn’t unexpected.”
He said that after starting his second round with three consecutive birdies and added three more with no bogeys for a smooth 65.
“One of the things I’ve learned is that regardless of what I’ve done, at the end of the day, it’s not enough. It’s great, but this game is filled with opportunities. You just never can settle. And this is a big deal for anybody who comes from Western Pennsylvania.”
It’s certainly been an exciting couple days for Fajt, a resident of Greensburg and a graduate of IUP.
“Yeah, it’s been interesting,” he said. “The first one was interesting because I got off to a great start and then midway through the round, it’s started to rain and I’m not a great rain player. The wheels just kinda fell off for a few holes.”
He made two birdies to open his first round, made an eagle on the fifth hole, made two more birdies and a bogey for a 31. Early on the back nine he went bogey, double bogey and bogey. And suddenly the 31 on the front turned into a 70.
“There’s no doubt the hot starts on both rounds really helped me,” Fajt said. “What happened in the middle is something else and some things I need to work on.”
In yesterday’s second round, Fajt chipped in on the first hole for eagle and then went bogey, birdie, birdie, birdie. He made a bogey to finish the front nine with 33. And then he made four birdies and one bogey on the back for 65.
He hit a high-quality shot on the 18th hole Tuesday that kept him in the position he maintains going into today’s round.
On the difficult 18th, he pushed his drive up the right, far too right in fact to have a clear shot at the green.
“I couldn’t hit an iron or fairway wood because I couldn’t keep it low enough to get there,” Fajt admitted.
So, he took his 3-wood out and hit it hard. The ball few untouched by anything except the green. So instead of facing a chip and putt for a possible birdie, he had about a 45-foot putt that almost went in.
Instead of making an improbable eagle, he made an easy birdie and is in good shape heading into the final 18 holes.
The 46-year-old plays much of his golf at Hannastown Golf Club, where he’s constantly under fire from an outstanding collection of amateur golfers in the area.
“They keep me sharp, and I try to do the same with them,” he said. “You have to play well, or they’ll just steamroll you.”
One shot behind is Dan Obremski who’s put up a pair of 68s and figures to play a key role in what happens over the last 18 holes.
“Anytime you’re under par and in contention is a good thing,” he said. “Playing in the final group always helps because you know who you must beat. I will check the leaderboard to see if anyone is creeping up the board.”
That final group leaves the first tee at 9:50, while the first tee time is 8 a.m.
For a full leaderboard, 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.