Knapp pulls off repeat
PENN TWP — Sean Knapp held the Pennsylvania Senior Amateur Golf Championship trophy firmly in his hands, a large smile creasing his face.
It was his second consecutive win in the event — a feat not accomplished since Robin McCool in 2013-14.
But beneath that smile was some lamenting for Knapp, who was off to another good start in Tuesday's second round at Butler Country Club, only to have a pair of lightning delays derail the second day.
The tournament reverted back to a one-round event and Knapp was the champion by one stroke over close friend, David Brown.
“I know it was a tough decision,” Knapp said. “But I think it was the right decision.”
Knapp, a former member of St. Jude Golf Club and currently a member of Hannastown Golf Club, was still firmly in the lead after a strong five holes before the first delay came at 3:25 p.m. that lasted more than two hours.
Knapp and his group were already on the green when play resumed and he finished off a par to stay at 1-under for the day, two strokes ahead of Brown.
But just 20 minutes later, play was suspended again because of lightning. An hour later, the second round was suspended for the final time.
“When you have a state event and you have people from the other side of the state, it's very difficult when you have a situation like this,” Knapp said. “I can't even remember this ever happening, especially without the rain; we just had the threat of lightning. Probably in the old days we would have kept playing, but today things are a little different.”
Knapp said that although he felt confident in his game Tuesday after shooting a 4-under, 67 in the first round, he felt Brown lurking right behind him.
“I was hitting it even better today,” Knapp said. “We had to go through nine and 10, which are difficult holes, and I know how capable (Brown) is and how quickly things could have turned around if we would have played more.
“I'm disappointed for him, but I'm also happy I was able to come out on top.”
Knapp, though, wondered if anyone came out on top Tuesday.
“I think Mother Nature was the winner today and not any golfers,” Knapp said, smiling.Knapp said it meant a little more winning at Butler Country Club.“It's always a treat to play at Butler,” he said. “I won a West Penn Amateur here years ago and it's nice to win a state, albeit a senior one, here.”The super-senior division of the event did conclude its second round before the lightning came.After shooting a scintillating 5-under 66 in the first round, Don Donatoni struggled a bit in the second round, but hung on for a 1-under, 141 for the tournament to win by four strokes.“My first round was one for the books,” said Donatoni of White Manor Country Club. “I had eight birdies. I don't think I've ever had eight birdies in a round before in a round.”Donatoni shot a 75 in the second round, which included two triple bogeys.He lost two balls off the tee.“I had to go back to the tee and reload,” Donatoni said. “I played pretty solid other than those two holes.Butler Country Club member George Bilowick shot a 74 in the second round to finish the tournament with an 8-over 150. That was good enough for eighth place.For Donatoni, winning this event meant a lot to him.“It's a tremendous achievement, particularly when you are competing against a field of such strong players,” Donatoni said. “We may be a little bit older, but we often play this game and we play it well.”
Following are results from the Pennsylvania Senior Amateur Golf Championship, which concluded Tuesday at Butler Country Club.Super-Senior (Ages 65+)Don Donatoni 66-75-141Tom Borsello 73-72-145Buck Jones 70-75-145Vincent Scarpetta 71-74-145Gary Daniels 76-73-149Tim DiCinti 73-76-149Robin McCool 74-75-149George Bilowick 76-74-150Don Erickson 76-74-150Vincent Zachetti 73-78-151Local golfers: Dan Reid (Cranberry Highlands) 81-79-160
