WPGA - Thompson Wins Open at Mystic Rock

Dan Thompson, an Indiana CC assistant and former Indiana University, PA, golfer, won the West Penn Open at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort’s Mystic Rock Course, a recent PGA Tour site. Thompson prevailed in a hole-by-hole playoff on the second hole. He edged amateur Sean Knapp, Oakmont, with a par after Knapp bogied the 440 yard hole after missing the green to the left with his second. Thompson’s regulation par gave him the title.

Both players shot 70-69—139 and played together the last day. Knapp opened a two stroke lead at the turn with a four under par 32, but Thompson took the lead with an eagle 3 on the reachable par-five 16^th. Knapp made a clutch par putt on 17 while Thompson bogied to tie them heading into the home hole. Knapp had a chance to win with a ten foot birdie putt but didn’t convert, while Thompson made a great save, first from the fairway bunker and then with a fine chip from below the green to three feet.

Two more in contention were amateur Mike VanSickle, Gibsonia, with 71-69—140. His twenty foot birdie putt could have put VanSickle into the playoff but it slid by. Next at 143 was defending champion Bob Friend, 72-71—143. Both Friend and VanSickle found the water hazard with tee shots on the 165 par-three twelfth hole, but both rallied on the final six holes.

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