SLIPPERY ROCK — Out looking for some competition, Sean Knapp discovered a lot more.

The Oakmont resident and longtime St. Jude Golf Club member carded a 2-under-par 68 to win the annual Butler Eagle Amateur Golf Open on Sunday at Oakview Golf Club.

Knapp, who has qualified for next week's U.S. Amateur in Pinehurst, N.C., and the U.S. Mid-Amateur in September, had planned on playing for the St. Jude Club Championship this past weekend.

"They moved that club championship up because a lot of the members wanted to play in this Butler County event,"Knapp said. "I wanted to play as many rounds as possible before the U.S. Amateur and I'm always looking for competition.

"I decided to throw my hat in the ring and I'm glad I did. It was a nice day of golf, good competition under favorable conditions."

Knapp had never played Oak view's course before. Included in his foursome were former Oakview club champions Geoff Patterson and Grove City resident Cameron Peterson, along with Joe Cordaro, who shot a 72.

Peterson wound up second overall, two strokes behind Knapp, who didn't register for the event until Friday.

"I didn't even know he (Knapp) was playing until I showed up at the course," Peterson said. "That was exciting, playing with him. You want to play against the best and he's one of the best around."

The foursome began the 7:45 a.m. shotgun start on No. 18. Peterson took a double bogey on that par-5 hole and had to play catch-up early.

He birdied No.'s 14, 15 and 16 to pull within a stroke of Knapp.

"I was four strokes down with four to play and got on a roll,"Peterson said.

Knapp led by a stroke and faced a 10-foot par putt on No. 17. Peterson was looking at a 15-foot putt. Knapp made his putt and Peterson missed.

"This thing could have turned out differently,"Knapp said.

Especially if Peterson hadn't struggled on his first hole of the day.

"I was counting on getting a birdie on that hole (18)," Peterson said. "I hit a nice approach shot, but it hit the green and skipped into the rough beyond it. I needed four shots from there to get in the hole."

Former Eagle Amateur committee member Bill Black — who moved to Hershey last year — and Bob Yuhas tied for third, three strokes back. Black won the first-ever Seniors gross division.

There were 55 seniors (age 50 or older) among the 135-player field.

"I was trying to win the tournament outright,"Black said. "But there were some good players in this field who qualified as seniors and I'm surprised my 71 held up.

"I had a better round going, but I bogeyed three of the four par-3's."

Knapp, Peterson, Yuhas and Black all played during the morning round. The lowest score in the afternoon session was 72, turned in by Ken Fair, Jeremy Plaisted and Dave Matteoni in the championship flight, Brady Randall in the first flight.

Knapp and Peterson competed in the Eagle Amateur for the first time. To be eligible to play in the event, one must be a Butler County resident, a former county resident who previously played in the tournament, or a member of a golf league or golf course in the county.

St. Jude Golf Club is in Chicora.

"It's a major plus for this event that Sean and Cameron joined it this year," Eagle Amateur committee member John Carpenter said. "I wish guys like Nathan Smith (St. Jude member) and (Butler resident)Jon Pratkanis would play, too.

"When it's a quality tournament, more people want to play in it ... The more quality golfers we get, the better."

While Randall's 72 won the first flight by three strokes over Tom Hunter, Butler graduate Jared Farabee carded a 78 to win the second flight by four strokes over Matt Maloy and Neal Smith.

Buck Kirkwood shot an 82 to win the third flight by eight strokes over Ron Vodenichar and Brenda Lemmon.

But the day belonged to Knapp, who took home a championship trophy while tuning up for the U.S. Amateur.

He became the first golfer to win the Eagle Amateur at Oakview with a score below par. This marked the fourth time Oakview has hosted the event.

"To qualify for the U.S. Amateur and Mid-Amateur in the same year ... That makes anybody's golf season,"Knapp said. "But I love tournaments like this one. I wish there were 10 more out there just like it."