The Butler Eagle Amateur Open golf tournament will feature many former champions among the field Sunday.

Few will be further removed from the title than 67-year-old Ray Weiland.

John Marron won the event in 1975 and is registered this year. Bob McFeaters won it in 1980 and 1984. He is signed up as well.

Weiland won this tournament in 1968, 1969 and 1982, but hasn't competed in the event in recent years.

"It's probably been three years, but now it's on my home course and I've been playing pretty well, so I decided to give it a shot," Weiland said.

A 7-handicap, Weiland is a member of Oakview Golf Club in Slippery Rock, site of this year's tournament. He carded a 72 while winning Oakview's senior club championship earlier this year.

"I may shoot a 72 again, or maybe an 82," he said. "I'm gonna have to play my best round of the year to have a chance and some of those younger guys are gonna have to slip up.

"But I still like to compete every now and again. Maybe I'll get lucky. Either way, it will be fun."

It will be unpredictable as well. The Eagle Amateur Open has had nine different winners in the past nine years. Mike Toubakaris carded a 2-under-par 70 to win last year's event at Pheasant Ridge.

The eight winners preceding him were Chris Marron, Mark Young, Chuck Young, Greg Minda, Sean Swidzinski, Dave Hungerman, Bill Black and Jim Hepler.

Only Swidzinski, now an assistant club pro at Olde Stonewall, is ineligible to play in the strictly amateur event.

"We've gotten more than 100 entries turned in already and we always get a lot in late," said Black, a member of the tournament committee. "We've been anticipating a big turnout because a lot of people play Oakview and like the course."

Knoch High School golf coach Rob Voltz is among the early entries. He has finished two strokes off the lead in each of the past three years.

Voltz finished four strokes behind Chuck Young in 2001.

Oakview is hosting the tournament for the first time since 2001. Next year's Eagle Amateur will be Aug. 13 at Lake Arthur Country Club.

"This event culminates the tournament season for me," Voltz said. "I love coming back every year and trying again. Maybe it will go my way this time."

Voltz was a member at Armco (now Oakview) through 1998, but he plays the course only once or twice a year now.

He tied John Aubrey Jr. in the amateur portion of the Tam O'Shanter Open and finished seventh at the Tri-State Amateur this year.

"I haven't been playing all that well this year," Voltz admitted. "That's what's good about a one-day tournament. Anything can happen."

Black is a member at Oakview and said the course will provide a good home for this year's event.

"The fairways are in as good a shape as I've seen them," Black said. "The overall course is in excellent shape."

Late entries for the tournament are being accepted by calling Black at 724-283-8656.

The field will be divided into four flights based on handicap. The championship flight is for handicaps 0 to 6. The first flight is for handicaps 7 to 12.

"We have 25 golfers registered early in both of the first two flights," Black said. "This will be a highly competitive field."

There has been talk of extending the tournament to two days and 36 holes with a cut after the first day, but those discussions have been tabled for now.

"It's still on the back-burner," Black said. "I don't know if we can get the courses and the players to make that kind of commitment."

Voltz agreed.

"They definitely wouldn't get the numbers they're getting now," Voltz said. "Even par would probably win a 36-hole tournament. Right now, you have to be well under par to win it.

"It's a challenge in that whoever gets hot will win - and that could be anybody."

Entry fee is $70. The Eagle Amateur features a shotgun start of 7:45 a.m. for the morning flight, 1:15 p.m. for the afternoon flight.