Success Story
CRANBERRY TWP — Club pro Steve Kusenko of Monongahela Valley Country Club teamed with Tom Poljak, Mike Yavorsky and Todd Lorenzi to win the second annual Butler County Pro-Am Fall Golf Classic Tuesday.
The two-day, 36-hole event included 18 holes at Butler Country Club on Monday and 18 at Cranberry Highlands Tuesday.
Kusenko's team finished at 25-under-par in the best ball format. The quartet tied with Connoquenessing Country Club pro David Yokitis and his team of Joe Primyon, Brent Rodgers and Tom Hazenstab.
“Those teams split the $3,200 in first place prize money,” Tri-State PGA Executive Director David Wright said. “The official winner was decided by a scorecard playoff.
“Yusenko's team had the lower score on the third hardest hole. That broke the tie.”
There were 19 teams in the event overall, an increase over the 13 teams from last year's debut event.
“This was a huge success,” said Amy Pack of the Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau. “I was out there both days and both golf courses were absolutely beautiful.”
Pack added that the Pro-Am is becoming an annual event.
“It's going to continue to grow,” she said.
Wright agreed.
“Our goal next year is to get a full field of 30 teams,” he said. “First Energy Foundation sponsored the event and we are very pleased with our partnership with them and Butler County.
“It's full steam ahead for 2021. I think this thing is gonna take off.”
The 19 club pros competed for money as well. Yokitis tied with Jason Robinson of Wheeling Country Club and Gene Walter of the PA Golf Academy with a 4-under-par 137.
Yokitis won on the first playoff hole, birdieing the No. 6 hole at Cranberry Highlands.
“I applaud our 19 pros for taking two days off work to participate in this event,” Wright said. “They're competing for prize money, yet offer golf tips to the amateurs they're playing with at the same time.
“That's the unique experience our golfers offer.”
Slippery Rock Golf Club pro Rob McClellan and his team of Craig Thomasmeyer, Billy Hunter and Marshall Barbour finished third in the Pro-Am, one stroke off the pace.
Tying for fourth — two strokes back — were Robinson, David Shaffer, Chad Lucas and Steve Seabright, along with PGA professional Denny Dolci, George Becker, Chuck Montgomery and Mark Paoletta.
1. David Yokitis (Connoquenessing CC) 67-70-137T2. Jason Robinson (Wheeling CC) 63-74-137T2. Gene Walter (PA Golf Academy) 66-71-1374. John Aber (Allegheny CC) 67-72-1395. Rob McClellan (Slippery Rock GC) 67-73-1406. Dennis Munko (PA Golf Academy) 69-72-1417. Thomas Beeler (Youghiogheny CC) 72-71-143T8. Jody Barrett (Cranberry Highlands GC) 71-73-144T8. Frank Blazewick (Stonecrest GC) 72-72-144T8. Joe Boros (Treesdale GC) 70-74-144
