Repeat winners just don't happen at the Pennsylvania Golf Association's Senior Amateur Tournament.

One may happen this year.

Paul Schlachter, 56, who golfs out of The Club at Nevillewood, will try to defend his 2004 title Aug. 1-2 when the 46th annual tourney is played at Butler Country Club.

"He's a high-quality player who has to be considered the favorite," veteran Butler Country Club senior George Bilowick said. "He's head and shoulders above the rest.

"If he's on his game … This could be like Tiger Woods playing against a bunch of amateurs."

Schlachter played against a similar field in the West Penn Senior Amateur at the Pittsburgh Field Club. Both of his rounds were under par and he won the tournament by seven strokes.

"He consistently shoots under par," Bilowick said.

The Pa. Golf Senior Amateur has not seen a repeat champion since A.J. Jordan of Oakmont Country Club won three in a row from 1971-73.

Jordan's streak was snapped by James McArdle of Lincoln Hills, who won the Senior Amateur in a playoff in 1974 - the only other year Butler Country Club hosted the event.

"Younger players generally win this tournament," said Marty Emeno Jr,. director of communication for the Pennsylvania Golf Association. "Guys who turn 55 and enter for the first time are often the guys to beat."

That's why the Pa. Golf Senior Amateur also has a Super Senior division within it. The Super Senior division is for golfers age 65 or older and plays from closer tee placements.

Bilowick, 65, is eligible for the Super Senior division for the first time and opted to take advantage of it. An 11-time winner of the Butler Country Club championship, Bilowick was BCC's senior champion in 2003.

Approximately 20 percent of the 113-golfer field will be competing for the Super Senior title.

The Pa. Golf Senior Amateur can hold up to 132 golfers. When more than that number are interested in playing, some golfers receive exemptions: The tourney champions of the past 10 years, the top 25 finishers of last year's event and the senior champion of the host course the previous year.

John Buckner was Butler Country Club's senior champion last year, but is not playing in this tournament.

The Pa. Golf Senior Amateur is a 36-hole event. The lowest scores from the first day tee off late on the second day. There is no cut after the first day.

"Ideally, there should be a cut," Emeno said. "But guys come from all over the state to play, so they should get 36 holes in."

Ray Ondako, 63, a Butler Country Club member, is also in this tournament. Jim Vollmer and Robert Baft of St. Jude Golf Club in Chicora are in the field as well.

"My home course has the tournament, so I figured I'd play," Ondako said. "I've had back problems of late, so I haven't been playing a lot of golf.

"It's getting better. I'm hoping it's fine for the tournament and I can put together a decent round."

Ondako was a five-time senior club champion at Sewickley Heights.

Five years ago, Ondako shot a 73 at Allegheny Country Club. He's finished among the top 10 in the Pa. Golf Senior Amateur once.

"This is a very competitive and prestigious tournament," Ondako said. "There are a lot of outstanding senior golfers out there."

Bilowick has finished as high as fourth in this event. He won the West Penn Senior Amateur in 2000.

"You start to hit the wall in golf at age 55, but it's not a brick wall," Bilowick said. "You reach your mid-60s … that wall's made of brick.

"The difference between good players and winners is managing the game, mostly through putting. With each new gray hair, it seems like it's another three-foot putt missed."