CRANBERRY TWP— Winning the Butler Country Club's club championship last month was seemingly no big deal for Dan Dillon.

He had been down that road before.

But never alone.

Dillon, 52, won his sixth BCC title July 20 — just two weeks after the death of his father, longtime Butler attorney Charley Dillon.

"I've missed playing in maybe one club championship in the past 30 years,"Dillon said. "Dad was always there with me, whether to caddy for me or just cheer me on.

"Golf has always been a big part of our family. I've played numerous rounds with my father. I learned the game from him."

Charley Dillon had been a BCCmember since 1960. He was an active lawyer, working six days a week, up until his death at age 88.

Despite his father's death weighing on his mind, Dan Dillon never considered missing this year's club championship.

Quite the opposite.

"Italked with him every day until the end," he said of his father. "He lived his life to the fullest. Dad served as more of an inspiration to me. His memory helped me stay focused."

Dillon won the club championship in 1996, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2004 before claiming this year's title.

As a junior golfer in the BCCprogram, he had dreamed of winning the club championship.

"It was always a goal of mine," he said. "Before I eventually won it, I finished second a bunch of times.

"What was strange about this win was I hadn't played much golf this year. I seem to get better the less I play."

Dillon was leading the club championship 21 years ago when his father suffered a heart attack. He disqualified himself with eight holes remaining to be by his father's side.

Dillon carded a 300 in the four-day, 72-hole event this year, beating runner up Jeff Bauer by eight strokes. Bob Jackson was third, 13 strokes behind.

There were approximately 25 golfers in the championship flight, 100 golfers in the overall tournament.

"Losing my father and this being the 100th anniversary of the country club, this is a big deal to me,"Dillon said.

Dillon was medalist in each of the first three rounds before carding a 77 on the final day.

"The club championship was a big deal years ago," he said. "Then it hit a lull for a while. (Club pro) Rob McClellan has done a great job bringing the event to the forefront again.

"He made the pin placements challenging. He's been a real asset to the club."

Dillon added that it "gets tougher to win this tournamenmt as you get older because you're playing against everybody."

Dillon and his wife have four daughters, ranging in age from 6 to 13, and each is involved in the BCCjunior golf program. Growing up on Pearl Street in Butler, Dillon moved to Cranberry in 1986.

"Golf has always been a family affair for me," he said. "My brothers, uncles, aunts .... Everybody plays. Now we're passing it down from generation to generation.

"I know my dad was with me out on that course. I could feel it."

Flights two through six played 36 holes at the club championship. Gary McKindree won the second flight with a 160, Bob Kadyk the third with a 158, Bruce Cummings the fourth with a 164, Bob McDonald the fifth with a 180 and Joe Ventura the sixth with a 180.