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Smith joins Palmer,
Reilly, with four straight Amateur titles |
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By
Western
Pennsylvania Golf Association |
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Posted Tuesday,
July 13, 2010 |
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When Nathan Smith holed the final putt in last week's West
Penn Amateur at Sewickley Heights, he had won his fourth
consecutive title, 2007-10. Other four time winners are
Arnold Palmer, 1949-52, and Bob Reilly, 1960-63. This trio
is tied for second with consecutive titles, with Sean
Knapp's sixth straight, 1998-2003, being the high water
mark.
Smith has won at Sunnehanna, beating Mike VanSickle in a
playoff, Bedford Springs, Allegheny, and Sewickley Heights.
Reilly, with his four titles, is somewhat overlooked in
Association history, especially compared to Palmer. Reilly,
who played at Highland CC, was a fine player from his junior
days, winning the WPIAL title in 1948 right after Palmer. He
was University of Pittsburgh's #1 player, 1950-52, qualified
for two US Amateurs and one US Open, won two Brothers titles
with William, '51 & '56, and three WPGA Four-Ball titles
with Leo Barisano, '54, '60' & '61. In addition he recorded
three top five finishes in the prestigious Sunnehanna
Amateur, 1960-64. He was considered the finest amateur iron
player of his era. A dentist, he moved to Florida where he
was also an outstanding senior player. Reilly won fourteen
club titles at Highland, and nine more senior championships
at Delray Dunes GC, Delray Beach, Florida.
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