Kowalski survives playoff to capture second WPGA Mid-Am title
By Josh Rowntree, Director of Communications • September 1, 2025
VERONA — This time around, Darin Kowalski made sure that he did just enough to leave a marquee West Penn golf event a champion.
Bolstered by a strong first round, Kowalski shot a 3-under score of 139 and took a three-hole playoff over Jon Pratkanis to claim his second WPGA Mid-Amateur Championship Tuesday at Green Oaks Country Club.
“Golf's been hard lately for me — which it is for all of us at times — so today it felt good to hit it good,” said Kowalski, a South Hills Country Club member. “I missed some opportunities late in the second round, which I thought I really needed to at least get into a playoff. Luckily, I didn’t. I played good enough to win. Winning's always fun.”
Kowalski’s first round set up his victory, as he shot a 3-under 68 during the morning. His second round teetered back and forth with four bogeys and four birdies for an even-par mark.
Pratkanis, meanwhile, made a massive charge in the afternoon with the day’s low round, a 6-under 65 that featured five birdies and an eagle.
“I played alright the first round, but I had a string of six holes where I was seven over,” said Pratkanis, a member of Butler Country Club. “I really just took advantage of the par 5’s and minimized mistakes.
“It’s been a while since I shot 65, maybe in the (2005) or (2006) Pennsylvania Am. Before that, it was some high school events.”
Both players made par on the first two playoff holes, the 1st and 17th holes at the Verona club that features plenty of sloped fairways and challenging greens. But Pratkanis’ three-putt from just off the green on the 18th hole secured the win for Kowalski.
“Jon’s a great player,” said Kowalski, a Bethel Park native. “I didn't expect either one of us to make a mistake and figured one of us would have to make a birdie to win it. I never want to win that way, but it was a long day.
“Fortunately for me, I was in a playoff against Devin (Gee) in the Tri-State Open this year, so I have my fair share of experience with playoffs and kind of know how to handle them.”
Fellow South Hills Country Club member David Kostanich finished third at 1-under, while Hunter Donahue, Troy Loughry and Garrett Schlick — who had the first round’s low score at 67 — tied for fourth.
Earlier this summer, Kowalski left another top WPGA competition — the 125th West Penn Amateur Championship — with a sour taste in his mouth, losing to champion David Fuhrer II by a stroke at Sunnehanna Country Club.
“The West Penn Am, I feel like I'm snakebitten a little bit with that,” he said. “I think I've had three or four second place finishes, two in the last three years. If I keep doing the right things, I trust that I'll get that at some point. Today absolutely gives me a nice taste and tells me I'm doing the right things.”
Kowalski’s win comes a dozen years after he claimed his last West Penn Mid-Am as a 27-year-old. Two children and loads of competitive golf later, and the Point Park University alum climbed back to the top of the prestigious competition for amateur players ages 25 and older.
“I work my butt off at golf,” he said. “It drives my wife nuts sometimes, but it's a passion of mine that I love.
“Sometimes golf will give you a humble pie and you’ve got to take a couple steps back, get back to the basics. That’s what I’ve been doing, working my butt off to come out here and get a win. It feels good.”
For final results, please click here. (GGID: 25WPGAMIDAM)
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.