PENN TWP— Bogey isn't necessarily a bad word. Just ask Nathan Smith.

The 29-year-old North Hills resident and St. Jude Golf Club member sank a three-foot putt for bogey on No. 18 Tuesday at Butler Country Club to secure the West Penn Open championship.

"I was relieved to get it,"Smith said. "I got myself in trouble there. I got conflicted and it almost cost me. We almost had another Winged Foot."

Phil Mickelson double bogeyed No. 18 at Winged Foot Golf Club in New York when he only needed a par to win the 2006 U.S. Open.

Smith didn't suffer the same fate — but he nearly did.

Bobby MacWhinnie of Upper St. Clair sank a chip from off the 18th green for birdie, closing out at 4-under-par for the 36-hole tournament.

"I knew I was ahead by two strokes at that point,"Smith said. "But instead of just hitting the ball, I began thinking to myself, 'Don't go right.' And I went way left off the tee.

"My chip to the green wasn't strong enough and things got interesting."

Smith's chip landed in front of the green and trickled on, setting up a long putt for par. The putt was short by three feet. But Smith calmly sank the bogey putt to hold off MacWhinnie by a stroke.

Smith's 66-69-135 tied five others for the third-lowest winning score in West Penn Open history. The record is 133, set by Joe Klinchock at Tom's Run in 1998.

Smith also became the first amateur to win the West Penn Open since Marshall Marraccini in 2001 at Edgewood. He is only the 11th amateur to win both the West Penn Amateur and West Penn Open and only the fourth to win both events in the same year.

The others to achieve the feat are Eben Byers in 1902, William Fownes in 1904 and Jim Masserio trick in 1981.

Smith bogeyed only Nos. 9 and 18 Tuesday and had only three bogeys in the tournament. MacWhinnie had five birdies and four bogeys on Tuesday alone.

"Golf can be a game of hit and miss,"MacWhinnie said. "I missed a little too much. I had to be more consistent to pull this off. Nate's been playing great and he's a great guy. What can you do?"

Sean Knapp, like Smith a member of St. Jude Golf Club and Oakmont Country Club, shared the lead with Smith entering the second round. He finished tied with Grant Sturgeon for third, two strokes off the pace.

Sturgeon, Dennis Munko and BCCassistant pro Rob McClellan were among golfers who challenged Smith for the lead during the final round.

Sturgeon was within a stroke before bogeying Nos. 17 and 18.

"I always like to know where I stand late in a round. It's a big advantage to know,"Sturgeon said. "I was trying to get a couple of more birdies. If I got to 6-under, I figured I could at least force a playoff."

Sturgeon, from Cave City, Ky., was assistant pro at Louisville Country Club for four years before becoming Bob Ford's assistant at Oakmont in April.

Munko had a one-stroke lead midway through the final round, but faded down the stretch.

McClellan and Jon Pratkanis, a pair of Butler graduates, both had chances to win the Open.

McClellan, playing with Knapp and Smith in the tournament's final group, pulled even with Smith on No. 11.

Smith regained the lead with a birdie on No. 12, however, and maintained it the rest of the way.

"I was four under through 16 holes, then bogeyed Nos. 17 and 18,"McClellan said. "Between the two days, I gave away six shots on the last few holes.

"Both of my rounds, I couldn't finish. That's what beat me."

McClellan and Pratkanis each finished at 138, three strokes behind the champion.

"Today was the best ball-striking round I've had in a long time,"Pratkanis said. "On the other hand, this was one of my worst putting days ever.

"I had 10 putts within 12 feet of the cup for birdie and made one of them. I'm very disappointed. It was right there for me and I didn't take it."

While Pratkanis was disappointed, Smith was relieved.

"I'm honored to be this year's champion," he said. "There are so many great amateurs in this section, and when you toss in the pros, the West Penn Open is very difficult to win.

"Everybody had their opportunity. Things just went my way in the end."

The cutoff score of 73 Monday marked the second-lowest in West Penn Open history, surpassed only by the 72 at Edgewood in 2001.