Strong final round gives Bangor third WPGA Mid-Am crown
By Josh Rowntree, Director of Communications • September 9, 2024
BUTLER — It may just be about time to start calling Ian Bangor ‘Mr. September.’
Bangor emerged from the pack late Monday, taking the 39th WPGA Mid-Amateur Championship at Butler Country Club — his third victory in the late-season event since 2018.
The 32-year-old shot an even par score of 140 for the two rounds. Propelled by a 2-under 68 in the final round of the competition, he won by four strokes over three players who finished tied for second.
“It's always a competitive field,” said Bangor. “There's always a lot of good players here, so it definitely feels like a great accomplishment to win it three times.
“I think all three times I had a so-so first round and then came through with a good second round. That's not always my M.O., so that's really nice to finish off the day with good rounds.”
Bangor has been a mainstay in West Penn events for years, but has seemed to peak as the temperatures cool.
His three wins in the Mid-Amateur are tied for third most with John Jones and Arnold Cutrell — who placed eighth Monday. Only West Penn amateur greats Sean Knapp (9) and Nathan Smith (4) have claimed more wins in the Mid-Amateur.
“I think part of it is being later in the year,” he said of his success in the Mid-Amateur. “You get a few tournaments under your belt throughout the summer and then feel more comfortable later in the year. I feel like I tend to play a little bit better later in the August-September timeframe than earlier in the year.”
A member of Montour Heights Country Club, Bangor shot a 2-over 72 in the first round. Following a brief break, he carded a bogey on his first hole and then four birdies in the next five.
“I made a terrible swing on (the Par 3 10th hole) in the first round and put it in the water left, just hooked it,” he said. “I stepped up on 10 in the second round and put it to three feet. It was nice. 10 was playing tough with the wind. I made three (birdies) in a row and got some momentum going.”
Still, Bangor was threatened late. Mike Wolfe (Kahkwa Club) was in the mix before finishing with three bogeys in the final five holes, allowing some cushion for Bangor — something he didn’t have two years ago when he topped Austin Lemieux in a playoff at Fox Chapel Golf Club.
“I knew it was a little closer and we were watching the board when I got done,” said Bangor, who also won at South Hills Country Club in 2018. “But I’m kind of happy to not have to do a playoff again.”
Wolfe finished tied for second at 4-over along with Sean Brennan and Kevin O’Brien, who capped a solid summer in West Penn events that included a victory in the Spring Stroke Play and a top ten finish in the West Penn Amateur.
Shane Stewart, Bob Crnjarich and Tanner Johnson all tied for fifth place at 5-over.
The high scores were a representation of the challenge provided by Butler Country Club — widely regarded as one of Western Pennsylvania’s finest and most demanding layouts.
“The course is spectacular,” said Bangor, whose second round score of 68 was the only under-par round of the day. “These are probably the best, tightest fairways I’ve ever played, besides Oakmont. I don’t know how the conditions could get any better, honestly."
And, for Bangor, the win came with a bit of sentimentality. His father, Paul, was also in the field, finishing tied for 28th place.
A member of the WPGA’s Board of Directors, Paul Bangor was able to award his son the trophy following his round.
“It’s great,” said Ian Bangor. “We’re always battling against each other. He beat me in the club championship at Montour two years ago and he loved letting me know the rest of the year that it happened. I got him back this year.
“It’s probably pretty rare to have a father and son compete against each other in the same tournament. I’m very happy to have him out here and playing.”
A live leaderboard for the 39th WPGA Mid-Amateur Championship can be found here. (GGID: 24WPGAMIDAM)
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.