LATROBE — Wade Boyle created one of the top memories of his golf career a year ago at the WPGA Amateur Championship. On Wednesday, he earned the chance to create another.
Boyle, a junior at John Carroll University, shot a 2-under score of 70, securing the top qualifying spot at Latrobe Elks Golf Club for this June’s 126th West Penn Am.
“The putter worked really well today,” said Boyle, a Greensburg native. “It was coming off a good weekend and just kept going. I was just using that momentum.”
Boyle and his John Carroll teammates played a tournament at Oak Hill Country Club this past weekend, with Boyle shooting a score of 67 on the Rochester club’s West Course.
But, early on, he had to overcome a rough start.
Boyle’s first hole, the Par 3 10th at Latrobe Elks, saw him plunge his tee shot into the lake that encompasses the front and left sides of the green. He posted double bogey on the hole.
“I just threw it in the water and was like, ‘alright, put a wedge close,’” he said. “The worst thing there was making a double.
“I knew there was a lot of birdies out there. It was just one bad swing and then I made a par on the next hole and then birdied the next three. So that put me in a nice spot.”
A year ago, Boyle qualified for the 125th WPGA Amateur, and had a marquee moment with a spectacular ace on Sunnehanna Country Club’s fifth hole. A year later, and he feels more prepared than ever to head back to the West Penn Am and compete for even more.
“I was just trying to qualify today, but I ended up making a lot more birdies,” Boyle said. “I’m happy with where my game is. I’m swinging it the best I ever have. The ball striking is god, the driver’s working and the putter’s getting hot. It’s fun.”
But Boyle wasn’t alone when it came to Hannastown Golf Club members who surged at Latrobe Elks Golf Club — located about eight miles away from Hannastown.
Brian Fajt shot a 1-over score of 73, good for third place. Jack Oberdorf was 3-over and Owen Dzurko was 4-over. All are members at the Westmoreland County club.
“There’s a lot of matches at Hannastown,” said Boyle. “You can always find a game if you want one. It’s just the competition there. Everyone’s competitive, everyone wants to win. It just makes you better.
“You play in a bunch of matches throughout the summer, a bunch of tournaments together throughout the summer and it just brings out the best in your game.”
All four off the Hannastown members qualified for the WPGA Amateur Championship, set for June 8-9 at The Kahkwa Club in Erie.
In total, 11 players qualified for the West Penn Am, with two alternate positions earned, as well. Sam Wotus placed second at 1-under, joining Boyle as the only players under par. Matthew Rebitch, matched Fajt at 1-over. Brendan Shaughnessy, Austin Goehring, Payton Guelich joined Oberdorf at 3-over.
David Brown, a three-time WPGA Amateur Champion, was 5-over to secure a spot at Kahkwa.
In a playoff, Kurtis Straw claimed the final qualifying spot, while Nick Zaller and Matt Montgomery earned alternate positions.
The WPGA will host two more qualifying rounds for the Amateur Championship, on May 7 at Willowbrook Country Club and on May 14 at Lawrence Park Golf Club.
For any media inquiries, please contact WPGA Director of Communications Josh Rowntree.
