Rob McClellan hasn't given up on his dream of becoming a professional golfer yet.

His play won't let him.

Three weeks ago, McClellan, 25, a Butler resident and assistant club pro at Olde Stonewall Golf Club in Ellwood City, won the Calloway Classic at Shannopin Country Club.

Last week, he won the first Sewickley Heights Invitational. In both events, he defeated the best field of golfers the Tri-State PGA has to offer.

"The top 40 players on their points list, plus a few assistant club pros - it's impressive to beat a field of that caliber once, let alone twice," said Olde Stonewall club pro Jesse Horner. "But Rob has been playing that caliber of golf."

Two years ago, McClellan attended PGA Tour school in Dallas, where he tried to play his way onto the pro tour.

"I was 6-under-par through three rounds and 10-under would have made it to the next round," McClellan recalled. "I didn't quite get there.

"You pay the $4,000 fee and take your best shot. Mine wasn't good enough then."

He plans to try again this October in Houston, Texas.

McClellan has the money to enter, having pocketed $5,000 for winning the Sewickley Heights Invitational.

"That didn't affect my decision," McClellan said. "I was planning on scraping together the money and going down. My dream is to be a professional golfer. I'm not ready to give that dream up.

"I love working in the sport. Being an assistant at Olde Stonewall has been wonderful. Being a club pro would be even better. Playing golf for a living is the ultimate for me."

McClellan defeated Roy Vucinich of Allegheny Country Club in a playoff to win the Calloway Classic. He edged John Aubrey Sr. of Butler by a stroke at the Sewickley Heights Invitational.

"You're talking about guys who have played in PGA Tour events," Horner said. "For an assistant club pro to win those events is a tremendous accomplishment."

Entering the final round of the Sewickley Heights event, McClellan was 3-under-par, trailing Kevin Shields of Mt. Lebanon Golf Course by a stroke. Aubrey was at even par.

McClellan recorded an eagle on the No. 1 hole on the final day, holing a wedge shot from 120 yards out while Shields bogeyed the hole.

As Aubrey caught fire, Shields faded, shooting a 75 for the second day. Entering the final three holes, it became a two-golfer battle.

"I had an advantage in that John was playing a hole ahead of me," McClellan said. "I'd watch what he was doing and knew what I had to do.

"I stayed ahead by two or three strokes all day. Then I bogeyed No. 16 and just like that, we were even."

When McClellan saw Aubrey miss a putt for par before ending his round, he knew what he had to do on No. 18.

"Just hit the middle of the fairway and set up a two-putt," he said. "That did it for me."

McClellan's season is far from over. He received one of four exemptions for this week's Frank Fuhrer Invitational at the Pittsburgh Field Club.

"That tournament includes the top 40 in points for the Tri-State PGA and four exemptions," McClellan said. "I'm sure that winning that Sewickley tournament got me in."

McClellan will play in the Tri-State PGA Assistants Championship at Edgewater Aug. 18. He plans to play in the 84 Lumber Classic qualifier Sept. 12 at Quicksilver.

He is in his fourth year of the Golf Professional Training Program. Sean Swidzinski, a former Butler Eagle Amateur Open champion, is also a club assistant at Olde Stonewall.

"Golf's fun anytime, but especially when you're on your game," McClellan said. "Hopefully, I can keep it up."