For the third consecutive year an amateur won the annual Tri-State Section PGA Open Championship.
This time it was Austin Lemieux, the son of Pittsburgh Penguins hall-of-famer Mario Lemieux.
Austin Lemieux shot a 3-under-par 69 and finished the 18-hole event at 2-under 142. Treesdale Golf and Country Club director of golf instruction Joe Boros finished a shot back at 1-under. Boros, who birdied at final two holes, was the low pro.
Amateurs Scott Jordan and Dave Brown tied for third at even par, amateur Nathan Piatt and Glengarry Golf Club pro Talon Kriebel tied fifth at 1-over and Allegheny Country Club pro John Aber and Hickory Heights pro Shaw McCall tied for seventh at 2-over.
Day 1 leader and Oakmont assistant Alex Aulerich tied for ninth at 3-over. He shot a 5-over 77 during the second round.
Lemieux, 28, said it was nice to put together two solid rounds at Southpointe Golf Club.
“I’ve been hitting it well the past few days,” Lemieux said. “I had a good showing (Tuesday). I learned my own game, and I’ve gotten better throughout the year.”
Lemieux’s birdie on No. 17 won the event for him.
He had to sit patiently around No. 18 to see if any golfer could catch him, and Brown almost did.
Brown pulled even with Lemieux on No. 15 by sinking a 10-foot putt, but his drive on No. 16 landed to the left of the fairway in the high grass and he had to take a drop. He ended up with a double bogey to fall two shots back.
“I thought I was in pretty good shape off the tee until I saw the Tri-State officials searching for my ball,” Brown said. “Even if we would have found it, I was in trouble.”
Brown rallied on No. 17 by hitting a booming drive and a great chip to within 5 feet for birdie.
On No. 18, his second shot ended up on the fringe below the cup. His chip lipped out, giving Lemieux the win.
“Being the low pro is better than nothing,” Boros said. “I played really well, and I putted great. I didn’t put myself in trouble. I had a good time.”
Boros said managing one’s game and putting the ball in a good position is the key at Southpointe.
“You can’t let things get away from you,” Boros said. “Last year, the conditions were a lot tougher. It’s also great to play against a strong group of amateurs and watch them play.”
Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.