George Bilowick, who has been a member of the Butler Country Club since 1944, watches his putt roll toward the cup on the No. 2 hole at the course Monday during the first round of the super-senior division of the Pennsylvania Senior Amateur Golf Championships.

PENN TWP — There's no trophy for leading the Pennsylvania Senior Amateur Golf Championship after 18 holes, but Sean Knapp likes where he is entering the second and final day.

A former member at St. Jude Golf Club and defending champion of this event, Knapp fired a 4-under, 67 to lead by one stroke as play resumes Tuesday at Butler Country Club.

Three other golfers are under par and plan to make a push for the title. They include David Brown (-3), Steve Walczak (-2) and Duke Delcher (-1).

Knapp had one bogey, on No. 3, then managed a birdie on five of the final 15 holes. Four of his birdies came on the back nine, including his draining of a 52-foot putt on No. 17 to finish 1-under on the par-4 hole.

“You have to allow yourself the opportunity to succeed,” he said of his score Monday. “The worst play I had all day came early on. I didn't get as much out of the front nine as I had hoped, but I stayed patient. Fortunately, things worked out for me on the back and I was pretty consistent.”

Knapp is currently a member of Hannastown Golf Club near Greensburg. He has a definite plan on how to approach Tuesday's round. He will tee off at 1:55 p.m.

“My goal is to play a good nine holes and that will give me a better idea of where I stand,” he said. “At that point, you start watching the leaderboard. I'll know to attack or defend from there.”

George Bilowick's round shows how quickly a golfer's fortunes can change. After nine holes, the member of Butler Country Club was at plus-1 in the super-senior division (ages 65-plus). He said later that he was “golfing comfortably.”

Following a lightning delay that lasted over an hour, he returned to the course for the back nine, where he shot plus-4. He enters Tuesday's play tied for 14th out of 45 golfers.

“I couldn't get back in rhythm,” said Bilowick, who won this division in 2005 and 2006. “My golf rhythm was fine, it was my mental rhythm that was the problem.

“The shots that disturbed my score were simple shots, near the green. My focus was not up to standard. That was disappointing, but it's part of the game.”

Bill Wigton, also of Butler Country Club, is in a 5-way tie for fifth place after carding a plus-2, 73. Only two in the division are under par, leader Don Donatoni (-5) and Buck Jones (-1).

In the super-senior team standings, which take the top two scores from each club, Wigton and Bilowick have combined for a plus-7, 149, good for third place. Philadelphia Publinks (+1) leads the way, followed by Hannastown Golf Club (+5).

Following are results from the Pennsylvania Senior Amateur Golf Championship, which began Monday at Butler Country Club.Senior (Ages 55-64)Sean Knapp 35-32-67David Brown 36-32-68Steve Walczak 35-34-69Duke Delcher 36-34-70Chip Lutz 36-35-71Doug Gradwell 37-35-72David Blichar 38-35-73Glenn Smeraglio 35-38-73Brian Corbett 35-38-73Chris Fieger 38-35-73Michael Vassil 37-36-73Local golfers: Bill Rosemeyer (Treesdale) 37-38-75; Ira Handler (Butler C.C.) 36-40-76; Jeff Hilger (Treesdale) 41-41-82; Chuddy Carless (Oakview) 45-40-85; Scott Nedrow (Cranberry Highlands) 38-48-86Super-Senior (Ages 55-64)Don Donatoni 32-34-66Buck Jones 33-37-70Vincent Scarpetta 36-35-71Tom Humphrey 38-34-72Tom Borsello 36-37-73Tom DiCinti 36-37-73Bill Wigton 38-35-73Vincent Zachetti 39-34-73Dennis Lankford 37-36-73Local golfers: George Bilowick (Butler C.C.) 36-40-76; Dan Reid (Cranberry Highlands) 40-41-81