SUMMIT TWP — This year’s Butler Eagle County Amateur has a tough act to follow.

But the 28th annual golf event will give it a try Aug. 7 when Hiland plays host to the tournament.

Geoff Patterson is two-time defending champion of the 18-hole stroke play tourney, carding a 69 to win by a stroke over Jake Gentile last year. Five other golfers were two strokes behind. Sean Knapp is the only other golfer to win the Eagle Amateur in successive years, doing so in 2008-10 and 2012-13.

“That’s the way we want it to be in every flight, not just the championship flight,” Eagle Amateur committee member Rob Voltz said. “You never want to see anybody winning a flight by more than a couple of strokes.”

Slippery Rock Golf Club played host to last year’s Eagle Amateur, which attracted 164 golfers.

Patterson won the 2020 tournament at Lake Arthur, edging Jeremy Plaisted in a playoff.

The Eagle Amateur features a championship flight for golfers with a handicap 0-6, first flight for handicaps of 7-12, second flight for 13-17 and third flight for 18 and higher.

“We’ve had a playoff in one of the flights almost every year,” Voltz said. “This event is for any golfer of any skill level.

“We’re happy with a field of 144 because that gives us a full field. Last year, we were way over that. Hiland has the most leagues of any course in the county, so we’re hoping to get a number of those people to play this year.”

Paige Scott carded a 66 to win the women’s division last year by three strokes over Casey Morrow. Morrow had won the women’s title three years in a row. Scott will be playing in the PGA Junior Championship in Illinois Aug. 2-5.

Entry fee for the tournament is $75 ($85 after July 31). The fee covers green fees, Skins game by flights and prizes. It does not cover any cart fees.

Shot gun starts are at 7:45 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. The Seniors division covers golfers 50 and older.

“The greens will be in good shape at Hiland because they always are,” Voltz said. “It’s been a dry summer and I’m hoping we get some decent rain before the event. The course will probably play firm and fast.”

Hiland is hosting the Eagle Amateur for the first time since 2019, when Brent Rodgers won it.

Registration deadline is Aug. 4. Contact Voltz at 724-822-4189 or at rvoltz@zoominternet.net for more details or to register. Entry forms are also available at various golf courses around the county.

BUTLER EAGLE COUNTY AMATEUR

Previous Winners

1995-Mark Young, 1996-Jim Hepler, 1997-Bill Black, 1998-Dave Hungerman, 1999-Sean Swidzinski, 2000-Greg Minda, 2001-Chuck Young, 2002-Mark Young, 2003-Chris Morrow, 2004-Mike Toubakaris, 2005-Doug Knox, 2006-Nathan Bilski, 2007-Rob Voltz, 2008-10-Sean Knapp, 2011-Bennett Smith, 2012-13-Sean Knapp, 2014-Mike Marron, 2015-Scott Vice, 2016-Rob Voltz, 2017-Scott Vice, 2018-Jeremy Enslen, 2019-Brent Rodgers, 2020-21 Geoff Patterson