SUMMIT TWP — With the Butler Eagle Amateur Open coming to Hiland Golf Course Aug. 12, one would think tournament veterans Chuck and Mark Young would be grinning from ear to ear.

Chuck Young, 65, has been greenskeeper there for 47 years, after all.

His son, Mark, owns course records of 29 on the back nine and 62 overall. And both golfers have won the Eagle Amateur before.

But neither has won it here. And neither anticipates an easy time doing so.

"If I had to pick a golf course that I play the most, it'd probably be Hiland,"Mark Young said. "But I jump around a lot. I play in a (Thursday)night league here and I've played in a few tournaments.

"My driver has been giving me a little trouble, but I've been playing fairly well this summer. I haven't won any tournaments individually."

Young won the Eagle Amateur in 1995 and 2002, both times at Lake Arthur. Hiland last hosted the Eagle Amateur in 2003, when Chris Marron carded a 2-under-par 68 to win the event by two strokes over Dave Hungerman and Rob Voltz.

Chuck Young shot a 67 in winning the Eagle Amateur in 2001 at Lake Arthur. His son matched that score when he won there the following year.

"I'd have to shoot my best round in a long time to win it this year," the elder Young said. "I've been a 2-handicap, but I'm barely holding that now.

"It's not an advantage playing the course you're the greenskeeper at. It's all about playing a round of golf. You're gonna have to shoot better than your average round."

Chuck Young said the winner of the Eagle Amateur will have to shoot "between 65 and 68." Par for the course is 70.

His son said it might take a round of 66 to win it.

"I've played in this event every year since 1995," Mark Young said. "It's a great competition for local golfers, putting your game up against other players to see where you stack up in a tournament format.

"There's a lot of good golfers in Butler County. This is always a good challenge. If someone can shoot a 66 under tournament pressure, that's your winner."

The Youngs play in the same 9-hole weeknight league at Hiland, but on different teams. They've also joined Rob Voltz and Dave Ruffaner in a few four-man scramble events.

The elder Young has shot a 68 at Cranberry Highlands this year and a 69 at Butler Country Club.

"Those scores don't come around as often as they should for me anymore," he said. "This game gets tough on you as you get old. I'm lucky if I play 27 holes a week anymore."

He's lucky if he can keep the golf course green, too, as dry as the weather has been this week and through much of the summer.

"The fairways are decent, but not where we'd like them to be,"Young said. "There's some brown spots out there. We'd like them to be perfect, but that gets tough in these conditions."

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, skins game (per flight) and prizes. Cart is not included.

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