ALIQUIPPA — Brent Rodgers entered into some very select company on Tuesday.

For the second time in three years, the Cranberry Township resident captured first place at the West Penn Junior Golf Championship, shooting a 76-72-148 at The Club at Shadow Lakes.

Rodgers also won in 2011 when it was held at St. Jude Golf Club.

The event, which was first held in 1921, has had just 12 other repeat winners. That field includes the legendary Arnold Palmer, who won back-to-back titles in 1947 and 1948.

“In this event, you know you are going to be up against the best junior golfers in Western Pennsylvania,” said Rodgers, 17, who will be a senior at Central Catholic this fall. “It’s an honor to be in the same class as Arnold Palmer.”

Rodgers, the defending WPIAL Class AAA champion, recently played the course at Shadow Lakes in preparation for this week’s event.

“It played longer than normal this time because of all the rain we’ve had,” he said. “It was tight and you had to place your ball in the right spot, but it set up well for me.”

Rodgers is known for his monstrous drives. Last month, he won a long-drive contest at Pittsburgh North Golf Club by crushing a ball 429 yards.

Having that ability in his back pocket came in handy the last couple of days.

“(Shadow Lakes) does not have many very long holes, but I was confident with my drives. They set me up with a lot of birdie opportunities other golfers did not have.”

The West Penn Junior was scheduled to be held in its entirety on Monday. But poor weather conditions backed the field up and Rodgers played his final seven holes Tuesday morning. He teed off at 8 a.m.

His 76 in the first round had him wedged in a five-way tie for fourth place. “I just left a lot of shots out there,” Rodgers said of his first-round effort. He then shot a 1-under par in the first 11 holes of the second round Monday afternoon before play was suspended. At that point, he was in the lead by two strokes.

“I admit, my nerves were getting to me a bit on Monday,” said Rodgers. “I was thinking to myself, ‘I have a chance to win this again.’

“I was glad for the delay,” he added. “It allowed me to cool down and relax.”

Rodgers was able to combat four bogeys in his second round with four birdies, leading to his even-par 72.

He will next compete in the C.R. Miller Match Play Invitational, to be held July 31-Aug. 1 at Green Oaks Country Club in Verona. After besting the field at the West Penn Junior, he will carry a bevy of confidence into that event, where he is the defending champion.

“I made some clutch pars and birdies the last couple days,” Rodgers said. “I’m proud to say that I came out on top at this event twice.”

Note: Four golfers tied for second place by shooting 150, including Valencia’s Ben Mullins, who was tied for the lead after 18 holes with a 2-over-par 74.