Cutrell, Hovanec use local knowledge to win first Senior Series
By Josh Rowntree, Director of Communications • April 28, 2025
GREENSBURG — Around this time a year ago, Arnold Cutrell and Jeff Hovanec teamed up to win a long-running WPGA competition. A year later and both men are again spring time champions — this time as individuals.
Cutrell shot an even par score of 70, taking the Senior Division of the first competition of the 2025 Western Pennsylvania Golf Association season — Senior Series #1 — by four strokes at Hannastown Golf Club in Greensburg.
Hovanec came out victorious in the Super-Senior Division with a 4-over 74, while JJ Labella captured the Net Division on a gorgeous and cloudless day in Westmoreland County.
The duo of Cutrell and Hovanec were teammates last year at Longue Vue Club, winning the 29th Semple Century Foursomes Championship in the early May staple of the West Penn schedule. This time around, as individual players, they showed their ability to rise to the occasion yet again.
“I played really solid for the first 16 holes and I hadn’t missed a green,” said Cutrell, who padded his lead well enough to more than survive consecutive bogeys to end his round. “I caught a mud ball on 17 and then three-putted on 18. It would’ve been nice to finish under par. But I still was happy with the way I played.”
Cutrell was plenty familiar with course. A member at Greensburg Country Club, he plays the nearby course several times every year.
“The greens are usually spectacular, and they were good today,” he said. “You have to be defensive in some spots and can’t hit it on the wrong side of the hole. It definitely helps to know the greens here.”
Hovanec, meanwhile, plays the course far more frequently. A member of Hannastown the last 13 years, he logs around 70 rounds each season on a course renowned for having harbored some of the region’s top players for decades.
“I got off to a slow start with no rhythm, but I made a lot of good putts,” said Hovanec, who made one birdie in his round thanks to a fantastic tee shot on the Par-3 second hole. “As the round went on, I found some rhythm, hit some fairways and kept it out of the rough, which is hard to do here.”
“That second hole was my best shot of the day. I was 124 (yards out) and I hit it to an inch. It was literally an inch. Almost a hole-in-one.”
Hovanec was able to play in the Super-Senior Division, but barely. He turned 65 — the required minimum age — on Friday. Both he and Cutrell marveled at the complexities and challenges presented by Hannastown Golf Club.
“This is one of the premier golf courses for golfers,” Hovanec said. Great greens, a super golf course, a great layout. The members that are here, Sean Knapp, Mark Goetz, Palmer Jackson, the Fajt’s. They’re here because of the golf course.”
The two men will now get ready to defend their Semple Century Foursomes title on May 19 at Allegheny Country Club. They will do so as multi-time winners in West Penn events, with Cutrell adding to a storied career that has featured a pair of major championships and plenty of trophies heading home with him.
“I’ve started putting them out,” Cutrell said with a laugh. “My wife likes to put them out on the table now.”
The contest got off to a late start due to a 1 hour, 10-minute delay because of frost. But as the sun emerged, conditions improved and only a mild breeze could be occasionally felt throughout the day.
Cutrell bested David Brown, a three-time winner of the WPGA Amateur Championship who shot 74 Monday and placed second in the senior division. Artie Fink was third, Bruce Lawson fourth and Rex Pagani rounded out the top five in the division.
Hovanec edged out Don Erickson — another staple atop West Penn leaderboards — by a stroke. Stan Namola, Brian Flannigan and Robert MacWhinnie placed in the top five in the Super-Senior tier.
And Labella’s win in the Net Division came narrowly. His 4-over 74 placed him just ahead of Dale Flohr, Walter Dillon and Pat Petit, who all shot 75.
The WPGA will also host Senior Series competitions at Latrobe Country Club on July 2 and at Montour Heights Country Club on August 27.
For a live leaderboard, click here. (GGID: 25WPGASS1)
For any 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 nearly 37,000 members. The WPGA conducts 14 individual competitions and 10 team events, and administers the WPGA Scholarship Fund and Western Pennsylvania Golf Hall of Fame.