PENN TWP — Rob McClellan keeps making memories at Mystic Rock.

McClellan, 29, golf pro at Butler Country Club, finished tied for second place in the Falling Rock Classic at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort's Mystic Rock Golf Course last year, five strokes behind champion Barry Evans.

His wife, Kim, gave birth to their son the night before the final round.

"I got a little sleep the night before (the final round)," McClellan recalled. "I slept on a pullout chair at the hospital."

McClellan returned to Mystic Rock earlier this week for the 2009 Falling Rock Classic. This time, he did himself one better.

Entering Tuesday's final round of the 54-hole event trailing co-leaders Evans and John Pillar by five strokes, he wound up winning the event by a stroke over Evans.

McClellan shot 70, 69, 69 for an 8-under-par total of 208.

"Going into that last round, I figured I needed to shoot a 65 and finish 12-under to win it," McClellan said. "But I felt like that was within reach for me because I kept setting myself up for birdies the first two rounds.

"I played that whole tournament without a three-putt. But I missed a number of birdie putts at the same time."

McClellan said he had "12 or 13 three-putts" at the recent Frank Fuhrer Invitational.

Heavy rain hit the course before the final round of the 2009 Falling Rock Classic and a stiff breeze accompanied the golfers on the course.

"The course was playing longer, which hurt the older guys and the shorter hitters a little bit," McClellan said. "My strength gave me an advantage."

But after bogeying No. 12 and seeing Evans eagle No. 11, McClellan still found himself five strokes down with only six holes remaining.

"I was playing for third place at that point," he admitted.

McClellan birdied No. 13, then missed a 9-foot putt for birdie on No. 14. He parred 15, then ran into trouble on the par-5 16th hole.

"I hit a 9-iron on my second shot and lost sight of it," McClellan said. "I was playing that round with John Aubrey and he said it went way right.

"I found my ball on top of a rock, in a hazard, and decided to take a chance and play it off that rock."

Rather than take a penalty stroke, McClellan landed the ball five feet short of the green and within 10 feet of the cup.

After that shot, he missed the birdie putt and settled for par.

"It was getting a little frustrating because I knew I was leaving a lot of birdies on the course," McClellan said.

But he was playing consistently while gaining ground on Evans (75) and Pillar (76) in the final round.

McClellan hit a 7-iron to within 10 feet of the cup on the par-3 No. 17 hole, this time making the birdie putt.

After he hit an "OK tee shot" on No. 18, McClellan was pondering his strategy when fellow player Denny Dolci asked him if he wanted to know where he stood on the leaderboard.

"Denny told me I had a one-stroke lead and I couldn't believe it," McClellan said.

Evans and Pillar both double-bogeyed No. 16 to help the Butler golfer move to the top.

McClellan parred No. 18 to get the victory and the $12,000 winner's check.

"This is my biggest win in section play, no doubt," he said.

McClellan is having a solid season in Western Pennsylvania Golf Association play. He is third on the money list and eighth in points.

"Mystic Rock has generous fairways and the course conditions are phenomenal," McClellan said. "You never get a bad lie here. It's definitely one of my favorite courses to play."