Defending champion Doug Knox may not be part of the 12th annual Butler Eagle Amateur Open golf tournament next month.

Knox, of Slippery Rock, carded an even-par 70 to win by a stroke last year over Ken Fair and Geoff Patterson at Oak View Golf Club. This year's tournament is Aug. 13 at Lake Arthur Country Club.

"Right now, I'm hoping to play, but I can't commit just yet,"Knox said. "Golf isn't my prime focus right now."

Knox, who serves as head athletic trainer at A-CValley High School, recently was named girls volleyball coach for the Falcons as well.

High school football and volleyball camps open Aug. 14, the day after the Eagle Amateur.

Knox said he is still playing nine holes of golf per day, but has been attending volleyball camps as well.

"It's been 30 years since I played competitive volleyball, so I have a lot of catching up and preparation to do," he said. "I want to play (the Eagle Amateur) because I am the defending champion.

"If time permits, I'll be there."

If history is any indication, so will plenty of other golfers.

Last year's Eagle Amateur featured 184 players, the most since the event, which is designed to crown the best amateur golfer in Butler County, since its revival in 1995.

Before last year's turnout, the highest participation in the Eagle Amateur came in the form of 182 golfers in 2001 and 176 in 2002 — the last two years the event was hosted by Lake Arthur.

"They've accepted us with open arms,"Eagle Amateur committee member Bill Black said of Lake Arthur's ownership and staff. "They've been very good to us."

Fellow committee member John Carpenter played the course recently.

"It's in great shape, very well manicured," Carpenter said. "They've put in a new set of sand traps with our event in mind.

"This tournament will be a good experience for everyone, and that's important to us."

Mark Young won the Eagle Amateur at Lake Arthur in 2002 and his father, Chuck Young, won it there in 2001. Both have already signed up to compete this year.

If Knox does not compete, it won't be the first time the defending champion did not play the following year. Sean Swidzinski turned professional shortly after his 1999 victory, thus giving up eligibility for this amateur-only event.

Greg Minda, the 2000 champion, gave up golf for a time and did not compete the following year.

Should Knox play this year, he will be trying to buck a 10-year trend. The Eagle Amateur has seen 10 different champions in the past 10 years.

Jim Hepler was the 1996 champion, followed by Black, Dave Hungerman, Swidzinski, Minda, Chuck Young, Mark Young, Chris Marron, Mike Toubakaris and Knox.

"Each year is new,"Black said. "It's always different and exciting. We get close to 100 or 120 guys coming back to play year after year. The rest of the field changes."

Two years ago, the Eagle Amateur added a Seniors Division for players age 50 and over to its four flights. Two women were among last year's field, and Black is hopeful that number grows.

"One of the next steps in this tournament's growth is the development of a women's division," Black said. "Yeah, they'd be competing against men, but they'd be playing from the ladies tees in a flight that fits their handicap. It would definitely work."

Eagle Amateur entry forms are available at Lake Arthur Country Club, Hiland, Oak View, Shamrock, Stoughton Acres and Birdsfoot golf courses, in the Butler Eagle or by calling Black at 724-283-8656.

Entry fee is $70, which covers the 18 holes of golf, cart and prizes. Tee times are available at either 7:45 a.m. or 1:15 p.m.

"I've run into a lot of people who have asked me when the Open is going to be,"Carpenter said. "It's good to hear people care. They know this is an important event for local golfers."