Alone at the top
CRANBERRY TWP — For Sean Knapp, it was business as usual.
The St. Jude Golf Club member shot a 6-under-par 64 Sunday at Cranberry Highlands, winning the 19th annual Butler Eagle County Amateur by five strokes over runner-up Jeremy Plaisted.
Knapp won the event for the fifth time in six years. He was seven strokes better than anyone else in the morning round as Chud Carless, Sal Genilla, Pat Preston and Brett Rinker all carded a 71.
“That's shocking to me,” Knapp said. “This course plays right in front of you ... I thought it was very fair compared to other courses this tournament's played on.
“A fair course like this, under good conditions, is susceptible to low rounds.”
Plaisted's 1-under-par 69 occurred in the afternoon round, as did third-place finisher Brad Posey's even-par 70.
Knapp played a steady round throughout, scoring birdies on holes 2, 4, 5, 11, 15 and 18. He eagled the 524-yard No. 7 hole.
“I hit the ball well today and gave myself a lot of good looks,” Knapp said. “At that point, it's just a matter of letting the course come to me.
“I hit every green but one today. I was pleased with that round.”
Knapp's 64 matched the lowest in the Eagle County Amateur since the event was resurrected in 1995. Dave Hungerman shot a 64 in winning the 1998 tourney at Hiland.
Plaisted had no problem finishing second to Knapp.
“I was a member at St. Jude for a few years and I know Sean,” Plaisted said. “He's a world-class player and I'm glad we have him in the field. It's added prestige to this tournament.”
Plaisted had not played Cranberry Highlands for five years before playing a practice round Thursday. He shot a 74 that day.
“That helped me get a feel for this course,” Plaisted said. “I double-bogeyed No. 10, then had three birdies on the back nine. I was happy with the way I finished.”
Committee member Rob Voltz, who shot a 74, said the playing conditions “were perfect and the greens were soft,” which may have aided Knapp's game.
“He plays in tournaments all the time and he's used to that grind,” Voltz said. “Sean could attack these greens today because the ball wasn't going anywhere once it hit them.
“Soft, receptive greens like that make him even tougher to beat.”
On the women's side, first-time Eagle Amateur player Jenna Rinker and five-time Butler Country Club champion Jane Wymer tied with a 72. Wymer won the women's division of the Eagle Amateur last year.She sank a 20-foot downhill putt from the fringe on her final hole Sunday afternoon to tie Rinker, who played in the morning round. Wymer began her round with three bogies.“That didn't bother me,” she said. “There was a lot of golf to play. I enjoy this tournament. It's fun.”As for the single day, 18-hole format, Wymer joked: “It's all I have time for. I have four children.”Rinker, a Slippery Rock resident, graduated from Robert Morris University in the spring and enjoyed a prosperous golf career there.“I was always busy in the summer and never had a chance to play this event before,” Rinker said. “If I had just parred my final two holes, I would have had a 69. I was disappointed with the way I finished.“I'm starting a job in Grove City, but I'll continue playing in local tournaments. I can't imagine not playing golf and competing.”Rinker played Cranberry Highlands for the first time, as did veteran golfer Diane Young, who scored a hole-in-one on the No. 13, 130-yard hole. Young shot an 80 for the day.It was her third hole-in-one in as many months. She got one in June and July as well, the latter while playing alone at St. Jude.“I'd never had a hole-in-one in 30 years of golf before this summer,” Young said. “I'm still shaking about this one.“I kept missing my putts today. That was the only frustrating part of the day. This is a beautiful course.”Greg Brandt won the first flight with a 71. Don Clark carded a 76 to win the second flight, Liz Turner an 82 to win the third.
