Bethel Park native Edgar tops at U.S. Mid-Am Qualifier
By Josh Rowntree, Director of Communications • August 21, 2024
FARMINGTON — When Sean Edgar pulled into Nemacolin Wednesday morning, he was flooded with good memories.
A few hours later, he left with a few more.
Edgar was the lone player to shoot under par, taking the medalist spot at the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship qualifying round at Nemacolin’s Mystic Rock Golf Course.
“This is honestly one of my favorite places in the world,” said Edgar, a Bethel Park native who played collegiately at Clarion. “The only tournament I won in college was Cal U’s invitational my sophomore year, and I won it here.
“I have really good memories here and know the place really well. That helped me coming down the stretch.”
Edgar’s score of 71 bested the trio of Kevin Koerbel, Trevor Cohen and Anthony Muscato, who each finished with an even par 72. Koerbel and Cohen won a three-player, four-hole playoff to solidify qualifying spots.
Muscato, along with Eric Smooke (1-over 73), will be alternates for the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship, which will take place at Kinloch Golf Club in Manakin-Sabot, Va. and Independence Golf Club in Midlothian, Va. from September 21-26.
The scores — even the winning one — were indicative of the difficulties presented by the Pete Dye designed course.
“It’s just very demanding off the tee,” said Edgar, who currently works as an accountant for MSA Safety. “You have to know your spots, you have to pick your lines and commit to them.
“Being in tournaments before out here, I knew what clubs to hit. I had a lot of commitment off the tees and that’s what it comes down to.”
The round began with temperatures in the mid-40’s, an unseasonably chilly morning for mid-August. As the afternoon rounds kicked into gear, so did the wind.
“It’s a bear,” said Edgar, who finished third in the WPGA’s Spring Stroke Play Championship and 14th in the West Penn Amateur earlier this year. “The wind out here is really what gets people. The Par 3’s are challenging. You have to take advantage of the Par 5’s. I did that on the front.”
Edgar’s top finish was a bit of a surprise. Cohen sat at 3-under, with a two-shot lead, entering the 15th hole.
But when he recorded a double-bogey and bogey on the next two holes, the door swung open for Edgar to come away with another memorable round at Nemacolin — and his first trip to the U.S. Mid-Am.
“I can’t wait,” he said. “This has been one of my goals the last couple of years, to get better and qualify for a national championship. This is pretty surreal to be in this spot.”
A leaderboard for the U.S. Mid-Amateur Qualifying Round can be found here. (GGID: 24WPGAUSMIDQ)
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.