FRANKLIN TWP — Entries are picking up for the 26th annual Butler Eagle Amateur Open.

Eagle Amateur Committee member Rob Voltz said the 18-hole stroke play tournament had 105 entries turned in through this past weekend. The tournament is scheduled for Sunday at Lake Arthur Golf Club.

“We're only about 20 entries behind where we were at this point last year,” Voltz said. “We usually get 30 to 50 entries during the final week, so we should be in good shape.”

Voltz (2007, 2016) and Mike Marron (2014) are the only two former Eagle Amateur champions to register so far.

“But that could change,” Voltz said. “I'm thinking we may get a few more.”

Last year's champion, Brent Rodgers of Cranberry Township, has yet to register. Sean Knapp, a former St. Jude Golf Club member and a five-time Eagle Amateur champion, has not registered as of yet.

Knapp lost by a stroke to Scott Vice of Franklin Township in 2017, the last time the event was hosted by Lake Arthur. Vice shot a 4-under-par 68 that day.

Vice is now the superintendent and general manager at Lake Arthur.

“Scott will be busy getting the course ready, handling the carts, etc.,” Voltz said. “I don't know if he'll have time to play.

“He told me he'll be day-by-day in that regard.”

This year's event may set a record for most women in the field. Voltz said eight to 12 women have already signed up, including defending women's champion Casey Morrow of Mars.

Two other former Eagle Amateur women's champions — multiple Butler Country Club champion Jane Wymer and Butler High School standout golfer Paige Scott — will be in the field.

“This may be our most competitive women's field,” Voltz enthused. “I know we've got some of the top women golfers in the area.”

Scott finished second at the Tri-State Junior Championships this summer. She also notched her second career hole-in-one, acing a 126-yard hole at Prestwick Golf Club in South Carolina.

“I've gotten bigger and stronger,” Scott said. “My drives are going 20 yards farther.

“I didn't play very well last year (at Eagle Amateur). I'm looking forward to this year's event. The competition should be very good.”

Scott is a member of Slippery Rock Golf Club.

“Between there and different tournaments, I practice pretty much every day,” she said.

While the official Eagle Amateur entry deadline is Thursday, Voltz said he will accept entries as late as Saturday night.

To be listed in the starting field in this Friday's Butler Eagle, “entries must be turned in by noon Thursday,” Voltz said.

Golfers interested in registering for the tournament may call Voltz at 724-822-4189.

For social distancing purposes, scores will be compiled inside. Golfers will be asked to turn in their scorecards and leave the golf course.

Time on the putting green will be limited to five minutes. A maximum of five golfers may be on one of the putting greens at once, 15 on the other.

The tournament will feature its usual shotgun starts of 7:45 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. Through Sunday, there were 62 registered for the morning session, 43 for the afternoon.

Voltz said he could add 12 to 14 golfers to the morning round, and “we have plenty of room in the afternoon.”

Entry fee is $70 for the tournament. Another $15 will be charged for a cart. Use of a cart is optional.

The Eagle Amateur has had a different champion in each of the past four years: Rodgers in 2019, Jeremy Enslen in 2018, Vice in 2017 and Voltz in 2016.

There have been 18 different overall champions in the event's 25-year history.