SCORING| GALLERY (to come)
SEWICKLEY — The final WPGA Open Championship qualifying round added 26 players to the major championship’s field on Tuesday at Diamond Run Golf Club.
One amateur and one professional finished atop the leaderboard, as Wildwood Country Club member Jeff Varga and professional Jeffrey Schmigel each shot 2-under scores of 69.
“I just hit it good,” said Varga, who played collegiately at Saint Vincent. “I kept it in play and only hit two drivers all day. The putter was cooperating. It was tough out there.”
Dealing with Diamond Run’s tight fairways and sharp elevation changes required precision from Varga and other qualifiers.
“It’s nice to play in a qualifier that has so many spots,” said Varga, who carded six birdies and would have posted the day’s outright best score if not for a double bogey on the final hole.
“If you can keep it on par, you should have a good chance at getting in. This is one of those courses where pretty much every hole there's a hazard or out of bounds. So, my main objective was just to keep it in play today.”
Schmigel, who plays out of Valley Brook Country Club, posted a strong score of 33 on the back nine and had five birdies in his last ten holes.
Ryan Costello of Shannopin Country Club, Kevin Fajt of Hannastown Golf Club and Will Hilton of Treesdale Golf & Country Club — all amateurs — finished tied for third at 1-under.
For a player like Varga, a 39-year-old who works as a real estate agent, it was rewarding to see his game so sharp while dealing with a busy schedule.
“Compared to the kids who we're trying to compete with, I don't play at all,” Varga said with a laugh. “Compared to most people my age, I play a lot of golf. It’s all relative, but I’ve been fortunate.”
The qualifying players all advance to the 123rd WPGA Open Championship, set for July 13-15 at Willowbrook Country Club.
“It's another course similar to this, where you don't have to bang it around, but, boy, you've got to keep it in play, “ Varga said. “I'll be excited to be able to compete in a couple weeks.”
For any media inquiries, please contact WPGA Director of Communications Josh Rowntree.
