Sean Knapp won last year's Butler Eagle Amateur Open, but at this time it's uncertain whether or not he'll return to defend his title in 2009.

SLIPPERY ROCK — The 15th annual Butler Eagle Amateur Open golf tournament will take place Aug. 9 at Oakview Golf Club.

The event will feature shotgun starts of 7:45 a.m. and 1:15 p.m.

"Oakview loved hosting this tournament last year and they really wanted it back," said tournament committee member John Carpenter. "They reduced their rates for us and made us an offer we couldn't refuse."

The last time the same site hosted the Eagle Amateur in consecutive years was in 2001 and 2002, when Lake Arthur Country Club had the event.

Sean Knapp, a St. Jude Golf Club member and one of the top amateur golfers in Western Pennsylvania, played in the Eagle Amateur for the first time last year and won it.

Carpenter doesn't know if Knapp will return to the field this time around.

"We had 135 golfers last year and we're hoping for 150 this year," Carpenter said.

Entry fee for the 18-hole championship play event is $65, a discounted rate from last year. This covers greens fees, skins game for all flights and other prizes.

Carts are not included in the entry fee.

The Eagle Open features four flights: a championship flight for golfers with a 0 to 6 handicap, first flight for handicaps 7 to 12, second flight for 13 to 17 and a fourth flight for handicaps of 18 and higher.

The senior division for golfers ages 50 and over will return. Bill Black won that division last year.

Carpenter said a women's division will be added this year if the committee receives enough entries from female golfers

"We'll see how many we get and make the judgment from there," Carpenter said.

Oakview is providing practice rounds at a discounted rate for non-members who register for the Eagle Open. Contact the course for tee times.

Entry forms have been mailed to previous players. Entries will be available soon at area golf courses or by calling Carpenter at 724-794-4040.