Voltz

SLIPPERY ROCK — The 14th annual Butler Eagle Amateur Open will be played Aug. 10 at Oakview Golf Club.

The 18-hole event is designed to crown the best amateur golfer in Butler County.

The only two-time winner in the first 13 years of the event is Mark Young, who won in 1995 at Lake Arthur Country Club with a 4-under-par 68 and again at Lake Arthur in 2002 with a 5-under 67.

"Since it's a one-day tournament, it comes down to who gets hot on that particular day,"tournament committee member John Carpenter said. "There's been so many different winners because there are a lot of good players who enter."

Entry fee is $70 and includes greens fees, skins game (by flights) and prizes. Entry fee is $50 for Oakview members.

A cart is not included in the entry fee.

Flights include handicaps of 0-6 (championship), 7-12 (first flight), 13-17 (second flight) and 18-up (third flight).

There also is a seniors net division. Golfers must be 50 or older on or before the date of the tournament to be eligible in that category.

Shotgun starts are at 7:45 a.m. or 1:15 p.m. Golfers can choose their time.

Oakview is hosting the Eagle Amateur for the first time since 2005, when Doug Knox won at even par.

"We're excited to be coming back to Oakview,"Carpenter said. "The course is under new management and it's in the best condition it's been in for five years.

"We always get a lot of golfers when we play there."

There were 184 golfers in the 2005 Eagle Amateur at Oakview. There were 144 entrants in the 2006 tournament and 147 last year.

Knoch High golf coach Rob Voltz is the defending champion, carding a 5-under 65 at Hiland last year.

The lowest winning score in the Eagle Amateur was Dave Hungerman's 6-under 64 in 1998 at Hiland.

"No golfer has finished below par in any of our previous three amateurs at Oakview,"Carpenter said. "It's a little tighter course and long hitters can get in trouble there."

Carpenter said he's hopeful of 180 golfers signing up for this year's event.

Eagle Amateur committee members include Carpenter, Tom Righi, Tom Sheehan, Jay Frederick and Voltz.

For more information on the event, call Carpenter at 724-794-4040. Entry forms appearing in the Butler Eagle can be mailed to him at 103 Parklane Drive, Slippery Rock, Pa., 16057.

<B>Year - Name - Course</B>2007 - Rob Voltz - Hiland2006 - Nathan Bilski - Lake Arthur2005 - Doug Knox - Oakview2004 - Mike Toubakaris - Pheasant Ridge2003 - Chris Marron - Hiland2002 - Mark Young - Lake Arthur2001 - Chuck Young - Lake Arthur2000 - Greg Minda - Oakview1999 - Sean Swidzinski - Oakview1998 - Dave Hungerman - Hiland1997 - Bill Black - Highland1996 - Jim Hepler - Highland1995 - Mark Young - Lake Arthur