BUTLER TWP — Corey Long, an amateur player from McDonald, used a hot start to shoot a 3-under 67 Monday to take a 1-stroke lead after the first round of the 113th West Penn Open at Butler Country Club.

Long birdied the first four holes and was 6-under after nine.

He hit a bit of trouble late — as did most of the golfers in the field — with bogeys on 13, 15 and 16, but finished his round with a pair of pars to lead by a stoke over five other golfers who finished the day at 2-under.

One of those players is Butler High graduate Jon Pratkanis, also an amateur.

Pratkanis, now a resident of Valencia, was playing on his home course.

After rattling off seven consecutive pars to begin, he birdied No. 8 and then shot an eagle on the par 4 No. 9.

He sat 4-under after 12 holes.

Like Long, Pratkanis had trouble down the stretch with bogies on 14 and 17.

Beau Titsworth of Wexford, John Abner of Pittsburgh, Reid Howey of Oakmont and Robert Rohanna of Waynesburg are also tied for second.

Defending champion Devin Gee of Oakmont sat four strokes off the lead with a 1-over 71.

Nathan Smith, who won the West Penn Open the last time it was held at Butler Country Club in 2008, was tied for 59th after the first round with a 6-over 76.

Other Butler County competitors are: Brent Rodgers of Cranberry Township, tied for 31st with a 72; Nicklaus Cuny or Cranberry Township, also tied for 31st with a 72; Rob McClellan, club pro at Butler Country Club, tied for 47th with a 74; Joe Boros of Saxonburg, tied for 59th with a 76; and Jimmy Brahm of Cranberry Township, tied for 67th with a 77.

The second round will be held today with the third and final round taking place Wednesday.