Collegiate players well represented in second West Penn Open Qualifying
By Josh Rowntree, Director of Communications • May 15, 2025
APOLLO — The sharpness that can benefit collegiate players in early-season amateur golf in Western Pennsylvania was on full display Thursday.
Several current college players littered the leaderboard in the second and final WPGA Open Championship qualifying round at Willowbrook Country Club.
22 players in total punched tickets to the 122nd West Penn Open, set for June 16-18 at Sewickley Heights Golf Club. Three alternate spots were earned, as well.
“I haven’t played in a West Penn Open before,” said Hunter Swidzinski, who just concluded his freshman season on the Longwood University men’s golf team. “I played the West Penn Am last year, but didn’t try to play in the Open. So, this year I’ll be playing both and I am excited about that."
Swidzinski was in the first group off, bright and early, at the Apollo course Thursday. Before the weather got into the mid-80s, he made the most of the more favorable, softer conditions, shooting a 2-under score of 70 to finish tied for the top qualifying position.
Tim Novic and Cole Villa also shot 2-under to solidify their positions in the West Penn Open.
He concluded his round with a commanding back nine score of 33, including three birdies in the last four holes, removing all doubt on his place in the final field.
“I hit a couple fairways,” he said. “But I started making some putts that I kind of had all day. I finally got my reads and speeds together to make a few putts.”
Swidzinski was propelled into that run by an eagle on the eighth hole.
“I hit a drive pretty hard over the corner and had 137 (yards) in,” he said. “I ended up hitting a pitching wedge to about 12 or 15 feet and that was the first putt I made of the day. It felt good to get something going mid-round.”
The sheer volume of play for collegiate players, particularly those who attend a school in more favorable climates — like Swidzinski in Virginia — seems to aid them compared to some others in the field who may not get the same number of reps during the colder months.
Add that to the training regiments of college athletes through the year, and that first summer back home for locals tend to be strong. Look no further than what West Virginia’s Nick Turowski did Tuesday at U.S. Open Local Qualifying, when the rising sophomore earned a spot in Final Qualifying.
There’s a very real feeling of improvement after being thrust into a competitive environment like college golf.
“I felt that in the spring of college,” said Swidzinski, who was named the Big South Conference’s Freshman of the Week in late-March. “After getting all settled in the fall and once I came back after Christmas, it felt like things came a lot easier. You’re playing against tough competition every week even within your own team. It really keeps you competitive. It translates well to being out here in the local events too.”
Fair weather conditions aren’t exactly a cause of Austin Malley’s strong play.
A centerpiece of the Cleveland, Ohio based John Carroll’s men’s golf program, Malley carded a 1-over 73 to earn a return trip to the West Penn Open.
“Finals ended like last week,” said Malley, who competed in the event with one of his JCU teammates, Dan Donahue. “Dan and I, we’ve been playing up in Cleveland. I stayed over at his house last night and it gave me a shorter drive. It’s nice that we’re so close together and able to keep the golf game strong, because competitive golf is competitive golf, no matter where.”
Donahue — who shot 3-over and also qualified for the West Penn Open — is a member at Oakmont Country Club. Both he and Malley aren’t finished with their college golf season, as John Carroll has qualified for the NCAA Division II National Championships next week in Rochester, New York.
“We lost by one (stroke) in our conference championship last year,” said Malley. “So it was nice to win this year by like ten, and to kind of smoke them and reach nationals. We’re really excited. We get some cool courses to play up there.”
The qualifying group primarily consisted of amateur players, several of which are still in college, including Villa. The Cal (Pa.) player shot 2-under, alongside Novic and Swidzinski, who hopes for a better result at Sewickley Heights than his last competition at the challenging course.
“I’m excited to play there,” said the Olde Stonewall Golf Club member. “I played there last year for the U.S. Open Local Qualifier and didn’t have my best day. I’ll give it another go. I know my game. My putting can be a lot better than it was that day, so I’m ready to show what I have.”
For final results, please click here. (GGID: 25WPGAOPENQ)
For any media inquiries, please contact WPGA Director of Communications Josh Rowntree.
About the WPGA
Founded in 1899, the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association is the steward of amateur golf in the region. Started by five Member Clubs, the association now has nearly 200 Member Clubs and nearly 37,000 members. The WPGA conducts 14 individual competitions and 10 team events, and administers the WPGA Scholarship Fund and Western Pennsylvania Golf Hall of Fame.