PENN TWP — Breaking a course record was nothing new for Rob McClellan.

After all, the 27-year-old Butler Country Club associate club pro shattered the Sewickley Heights Golf Club course record only last month. He carded a 64 to best the previous mark by three strokes en route to winning the Sewickley Heights Open Championship there.

But this time, he was chasing

the record.McClellan used two clutch shots on No. 17 and a fortunate bounce on No. 18 to shoot a 9-under-par 62 Aug. 28 at Butler Country Club, breaking the previous course record of 63 held by the late Jim Simons.Simons set the record on June 20, 1975. It stood for more than 32 years."That was a remarkable record when you consider they were driving the ball with woods back then,"McClellan said. "With the technology and equipment today, scores are gonna go down ... But you still have to put the ball in the hole."McClellan wasted little time doing that on this day.His round included nine birdies and an eagle. He set the record despite two bogeys. He even bogeyed No. 8, the hole he eagled twice during the Frank Fuhrer Invitational earlier this year.McClellan played his record-breaking round with BCCpresident George Bilowick, Larry Garvin and Ron West."After he bogeyed No. 8, Rob said that Jim didn't have to be worried now,"Bilowick said. "That comment didn't register with me then. Looking back on it, he clearly had the record in the back of his mind."McClellan wasn't convinced he would break the record until his performance on No. 17."When I teed off on 18, I was definitely thinking about it," he admitted.He caught a break on his final drive as the ball sailed into a tree, but deflected back into play.McClellan's drive on No. 17 landed in the sand trap in front of the green, approximately 320 yards from the tee."Nobody ever does that,"Bilowick said. "That bunker is designed to catch golfers' second shots."McClellan's shot out of the sand landed on the top of the green, the ball's backspin carrying it within three feet of the hole."That was the shot of the day,"Garvin said. "It was something you'd see on TV.""It was a Tiger Woods-like shot ... Simple beautiful,"Bilowick agreed.During the round, McClellan had three putts and a chip hit the hole, but rim out. He bogeyed No. 7 along with No. 8 and his eagle was on No. 16. He needed only 28 putts to finish off the 18 holes.McClellan said he's played the BCCcourse approximately 40 times in his career."Obviously, I've been playing it a lot more since I've been working here," he said. "I shot a 65 here last year."Get in a groove, hit good iron shots and give yourself short putts — that's all it was. I hit 17 greens that day."BCCclub pro Paul Hollstein marveled at McClellan's accomplishment."It's a phenomenal round, breaking this course record with two bogeys," he said. "Rob's been playing very well and with today's technology, guys can hit the ball 50 to 75 yards farther than they could years ago.""Rob has such a fluid swing," Garvin said. "It was like playing with a guy on the Tour. He was that smooth."Bilowick believes McClellan's record of 62 won't stand anywhere near as long as Simon's mark stood.In fact, McClellan may lower the record himself one day."Oh, I think so,"Bilowick said. "The guy is such a strong player and this course can be handled by a player of his caliber."Rob will shoot a lower score than this. This record could drop below 60. It wouldn't surprise me."Bilowick has played rounds of golf with Simons and McClellan."Jim Simons was a disciplined player, very methodical,"he said. "Rob is an aggressive player, very strong off the tee. On our par 5's, he's hitting a mid-iron on his second shot. When he's on his game, look out."McClellan will compete in the National Assistant Pro Tournament Oct. 25-28 in Port St. Lucie, Fla. He qualified by winning the Tri-State Section PGA Assistant Pro Championship last month at Williams Country Club in Weirton, W.Va.