The 24th annual Butler Eagle County Amateur is a month away.

This year’s tournament takes place Aug. 12 at Oakview Golf Club in Slippery Rock.

The uniqueness of this event has been well-documented. It is one day. It is 18 holes. That leaves the outcome wide open and unpredictable.

Some will argue that Sean Knapp’s presence in this event takes away that unpredictability. Knapp, a former member of the since-closed St. Jude Golf Club, is considered one of the top amateurs in the country, after all.

He has won this tournament five times — but he has not won every time.

Even an amateur of Knapp’s quality can be beaten by another golfer having a particularly hot round. Scott Vice did it last year.

Knapp shot an impressive 3-under par 69 at Lake Arthur. Vice was one stroke better. Bennett Smith edged Knapp in 2011 at Hiland Golf Course.

On any given day, you never know. Vice shot an astounding 63 at Oakview to win the Eagle Amateur in 2015. He had not played that course before or since.

Go figure that one out.

Another factor is the starting times of the two sessions. One starts at 7:45 a.m. The other starts at 1:15 p.m. Course and weather conditions can be radically different between those two times of day.

Only once in the previous 23 Eagle Amateurs — 2016 at Cranberry Highlands — did rain wash out one of the two sessions. The afternoon session could not beat the rain and Rob Voltz was crowned champion for topping the morning field.

This tournament always seems to attract its share of golfers, going over 140 pretty much every year. But one thing is missing, however.

One thing that would advance the Butler Eagle County Amateur from a very good event to an absolutely great one.

More women golfers.

Paige Scott, a tremendous young player, is entering her freshman year at Butler High School and is two-time defending women’s champion of the Eagle Amateur. This is not intended to slight her. She is very deserving.

But that women’s field needs more numbers.

Jenna Rinker, Jane Wymer, Donna McClymonds, these have been consistent female golfers in terms of playing the Eagle Amateur in recent years. A few other women have played here and there.

But there is a high number of quality women golfers in Butler County. We see many of their names on the Eagle sports pages all the time as many women’s leagues turn in their top scores each week.

But the majority of those names have rarely been seen at the Eagle Amateur.

The women’s field has plenty of room for growth in this event.

Here’s hoping it happens — sooner rather than later.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle