It takes 2 exra holes, but Brown wins West Penn Amateur Open
PENN TWP — David Brown toppled not one, but two, young guns in the West Penn Amateur Golf Championship Tuesday at Butler Country Club.
After passing up 19-year old Josh Stauffer, who entered the final round with a one-stroke lead on Brown, the latter faced Bo Lustig, 20, in a sudden-death playoff after both golfers had identical scores of 209 after 54 holes.
Brown and Lustig both broke even on the first playoff hole, which took place on No. 18, a 415-yard par four.
The duo moved over to No. 1, a 423-yard par four, and both reached the green in two shots. That's where Brown sank a 10-foot putt and watched Lustig lose his grip on the title by having his six-footer lip out.
“I drove the ball well (300 yards) on the second playoff hole,” said Brown. “That's as good as I can hit a ball.”
Though Brown's title-clinching putt was four feet longer than Lustig's, the former was putting on level ground.
“My putt was a bit downhill and moved right to left,” said Lustig, of Belle Vernon. “I tried to play it on the right edge, but hit it too firm.”
“I had a much easier putt than he did,” said Brown. “I'm glad I birdied there to win. I didn't want us to go to a third hole and watch him drive it 340 yards.
“I missed a short putt on No. 1 (Monday), but I made up for it today,” he added.
It is the third West Penn Amateur title for Brown, 52, of Pittsburgh. He also won in 2004 at Nemacolin and 2011 at Oakmont.
“It feels good to hang in there for 56 holes,” said Brown. “It's fun to compete and fun to win.”
Lustig came close to losing on the first playoff hole. His tee shot hooked and ended up on the fairway for No. 1, but he took his pitching wedge and landed his approach shot just eight feet from the cup.
“I could see the pin, but not the entire green,” Lustig said. “There was a tall pine tree in front of me and I wanted to avoid that.”
Both golfers two-putted to extend the playoff.Stauffer (138) and Brown (139) had the two-best scores after Monday's first and second round. But while Brown managed an even-par 70 on Tuesday, Stauffer shot a 75, eliminating him from contention.Lustig was in a three-way tie for fourth place and four strokes back of the lead with one round left before turning in a 67.“I bogeyed No. 6 and 7 and I was steaming after that,” he said, “but then I birdied No. 8 and that put me in a good frame of mind. I had a clean card on the back nine with two birdies.”Sean Knapp, a seven-time West Penn Amateur champion, shot a 69 Tuesday and finished one stroke behind Brown and Lustig.Brown's latest win adds to his great memories of Butler Country Club.“The first time I golfed up here was in 1979,” he said. “It was a father-son tournament and I was here with my dad, Marshall. That was a long time ago, but it was fun and I still remember that day.“It's always fun to come up here and play some golf,” he added.Notes: Slippery Rock's Brett Rinker had the best finish of any Butler County golfer, carding a 217 (75-71-71). ... Next year's West Penn Amateur will be played at Penn State's Blue Course.
