Nathan Bilski will try to succeed where 10 others have failed before him.

The Butler resident and Robert Morris University junior will defend his Butler Eagle Amateur Open golf title when the 13th annual event takes place Aug. 12 at Hiland Golf Course.

Bilski carded a 3-under-par 69 to win the Eagle Amateur as a 20-year-old at Lake Arthur Country Club last year. He and Chris Marron (2003 at Hiland) are the youngest golfers to win the event.

This 18-hole tournament has produced 11 different champions in 11 years. Doug Knox, the 2005 champion, did not play in last year's tournament.

"I wasn't aware of that,"Bilski said of the defending champions' repeated failure to repeat. "I guess I have to look at that as a challenge.

"I consider myself an underdog at Hiland, though. Mark Young and Chuck Young play there all the time and they should have an edge. I've played there maybe five or six times all year.

"I have been getting over there on weeknights to chip and putt around the green, just to feel familiar with the surroundings,"Bilski added.

Chuck Young and his son, Mark, are among the string of 10 golfers who have not repeated as Eagle Amateur Open champion. The others are Knox, Mike Toubakaris, Marron, Greg Minda, Sean Swidzinski, Dave Hungerman, Bill Black and Jim Hepler.

Bilski said his familiarity with Lake Arthur Country Club played a factor in his winning there last year.

"I played golf for Butler County Community College for two years and that was our home course,"he said. "We played and practiced there all the time.

"None of the pin placements surprised me. I'd seen them all."

Bilski has seen some success on the golf scene this summer as well.

Playing the Heritage Tour — a series of tournaments for golfers ages 18 to 22 — for the second straight year, he won his first tour event Tuesday at Lindenwood Golf Club in McMurray. Bilski won three Heritage Tour events last season.

He finished second in the Heritage Tour event at Blackhawk Golf Course last week.

"That tour is just starting to catch on,"Bilski said. "Their numbers are going to increase."

Bilski has played a couple of Tri-State PGAevents this summer, carding a 45-34-79 at Tam O' Shanter and a 71 during the first round of the Tri-State Amateur at Tom's Run in Blairsville.

Working at a golf shop in Robinson Township and as a demo day sales representative for Calloway, Bilski has stayed busy on the employment front.

"I've worked 57 hours in a week at times and have played in six tournaments or so,"he said.

He plans to play in three more Heritage Tour events and will end his summer season with the Calloway Classic at Shannopin on Sept. 4.

"I'm hoping Calloway pays my entry fee into that one,"he said, laughing.

Bilski is undecided about whether to try out for the Robert Morris golf team this fall.

"I wanted to do that last year and the coach kept putting me off,"he said. "He wasn't sure who I was ... He didn't recruit me. I felt like he could have at least watched me play a round.

"I may play. I don't know. I have mixed feelings about it."

Tee times remain available at 7:45 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. for this year's Eagle Amateur. The event features championship, first, second and third flights.

Entry fee is $60 and includes golf, greens fees, skins game (per flight) and prizes. Cart is not included.

Call John Carpenter at 724-794-4040 for details.