PENN TWP — Erik Lenyk and Stefan Carlsson know what they are up against.

And they welcome the challenge.

Both will be among the 72-golfer field in the WPGA’s 113th West Penn Amateur Tournament Monday and Tuesday at Butler Country Club.

Lenyk, 38, is the 2012 BCC champion and has been a caddie, worked in the pro shop, or been a member of Butler Country Club since 1992. He is in the West Penn Amateur on an exemption.

Carlsson, a Knoch graduate this year, has a junior membership at BCC. He earned one of the 15 West Penn Amateur qualifier spots out of a 50-golfer field June 19 at Meadville Country Club.

“I shot a 77 out there and made the Amateur through a playoff that day,” Carlsson said. “I’m excited about this. I’ve been playing some practice rounds and getting myself ready.”

Like Carlsson, Lenyk will be playing in his first West Penn Amateur.

“I’ve played in other competitive events in this area, though,” Lenyk said. “I’m hoping to make a good showing, survive the cut and go from there.”

Others in the tourney field with county ties include Butler graduate Jon Pratkanis (Kittanning Country Club), Parker resident Mike Marron (St. Jude Golf Club), Cranberry Township resident Brent Rodgers, Slippery Rock resident Brett Rinker (Oakview) and Harmony resident Michael McNulty (Strawberry Ridge).

The tourney gets under way at 7:50 a.m. Monday. Golfers will play 36 holes that day. The top 32 scores — along with any ties — will return to play an 18-hole round Tuesday.

“Our veteran golfers have held off the younger guys so far,” WPGA President Jeff Rivard said of the West Penn Amateur. “Only three times in the past 20 years has a high school or collegiate player won this event.

“That’s strange for an amateur tournament when compared to others like it across the country.”

Greg Podufal, a golfer at Georgetown University, carded a 3-under-par 207 to win last year’s West Penn Amateur by four strokes over Easton Renwick at the Kahkwa Club.

Before that, high school player William Miller won in 2006 and collegian Jason Tyska won in 1993.

In the past 20 years, longtime amateurs Sean Knapp (six), Nathan Smith (four) and David Brown (two) have combined to win 12 West Penn Amateurs. Knapp won the event a record six consecutive years from 1998-2003, including the last year (2001) it was held at Butler Country Club.

Knapp’s 5-under-par 205 at BCC in 2001 is the second-lowest 54-hole score in the Amateur’s history. It is surpassed only by Brown’s 8-under-par 202 at Nemacolin in 2004.

Smith won the West Penn Amateur from 2007 through 2010, but dropped out of the 2011 event an hour before its scheduled start. He has not played in the Amateur since and will not be competing here this time. Knapp will be playing.

“Nathan plays more of a national schedule now,” Rivard said. “He’s hit or miss with us these days.

“We don’t field bids for the event. We do all of the asking. Butler Country Club is always on our list. It’s a quality, well-maintained course and it’s very walkable.

“That’s important, since our players are walking 36 holes that first day,” Rivard added.

Butler Country Club member Rob Stoops has qualified as an alternate for the Amateur. He may join the field if someone else drops out.

The West Penn Amateur is among the five oldest amateur golf tournaments in the country. The WPGA was formed in 1899.

Five USGA champions — Eben Byers, William C. Fownes, Carl Kauffmann, Arnold Palmer and Smith — have won the event. Fownes holds the record of eight career West Penn Amateur wins. Knapp has won it seven times, but finished 10 strokes back last year.

Knapp and Carlsson are both members at St. Jude Golf Club.

“I’ve played rounds with Mr. Knapp before at St. Jude,” Casrlsson said. “I know what it’s like to play alongside a golfer of that caliber.”

Carlsson will attend Allegheny College in the fall and play on its golf team.

“The (BCC) course will play 6,800 yards and that’s long, but my drives have increased in distance since I’ve gotten bigger over the past year or so,” Carlsson said. “I can hit 285 off the tee and I know I can improve on that.”

Lenyk expects the greens to be “firm and fast” for the tournament.

“This course is in the best shape it’s been in for years,” Lenyk said. “The weather leading up to this has been perfect.”

While Lenyk and Carlsson know the course, Rivard knows the field.

“Looking at 54 holes with this caliber of talent, there won’t be much of an edge for anybody who knows the course,” he said. “You have to play extremely well.

“The talent is going to win out.”