It is going to be a busy summer for Nick Turowski.
The Harrison City native, 2024 Penn-Trafford graduate and West Virginia University sophomore is headed to events all over the country.
He recently won the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association’s Spring Stroke Play title at Hannastown, placed third at the 126th WPGA Amateur and competed in the 85th Sunnehanna Amateur in Johnstown on June 17-20.
Other events on his schedule include — get ready for a long list — the Pittsburgh Open (June 29-30) at Butler Country Club, the 122nd Trans Mississippi Amateur (July 6-10) at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla., the U.S. Amateur qualifier (July 15) at Ohio State, the 85th Monroe Invitational (July 20-25) at Rochester, N.Y., the 113th Pennsylvania Amateur (July 27-29) at Oakmont Country Club, the 77th WPGA Brothers (July 31) at Shannopin Country Club, the 110th Pennsylvania Open (Aug. 10-12) at Laurel Valley Golf Club and U.S. Amateur (Aug. 10-16) at Merion Country Club in Philadelphia.
“I am looking forward to the summer,” Turowski said. “I am playing better, and I need to continue to challenge myself.”
Turowski was a first-day co-leader at the West Penn Amateur and started the final round with a birdie, but he caught some bad luck on Nos. 2 and 12 and Fox Chapel’s Carson Kittsley ended up winning.
“The Kahkwa Club was a good test,” Turowski said. “I have to continue to follow my process.”
Turowski earned the Jack Benson Trophy, which was awarded to the winner of the WPGA’s Spring Stroke Play Championship.
That trophy features an impressive list of past champions, including Neal Shipley, Nathan Smith, Sean Knapp and Rick Stimmel.
Turowski finished the two-round event at 7-under 133, which included a 5-under 65 in the first round at his home course, Hannastown Golf Club.
Turowski looked at the names on the trophy and was amazed.
“Wow,” Turowski said. “There are a lot of good ones on here.”
It was Turowski’s fifth win in WPGA competition in his young career.
He also won the 2024 West Penn Juniors Championship, 2024 Junior Player of the Year, 2021 WPGA boys under-15 championship and the 2018 and 2019 boys under-13 championship.
“Really happy to be back home and playing a local tournament schedule,” Turowski said. “Always fun to see everyone from home again and compete at amazing golf courses in Western Pennsylvania.”
Turowski played well in his last round at WVU this season. He shot a bogey-free, 5-under 67 to finish 18th at the NCAA Marana Regional at The Gallery Golf Club in Marana, Ariz., on May 20.
Turowski’s round is the second lowest recorded by a Mountaineer in an NCAA event. His four-round total was 6-under 214.
At the West Penn Amateur, Turowski placed third at 6-over, one stroke behind second-place finisher Colton Lusk, a Peters Township graduate.
Turowski and Butler’s Hunter Swidzinski shared the first-round lead, but both struggled in the final round.
Turowski, who was 1-over after one round, began his final round with a birdie. But a double-bogey 6 on the second hole was not what he was hoping for.
“I tried to cut the corner, and I thought I did,” Turowski said. “But it ended up in the fescue, and I had to return to the tee.”
Turowski recovered and was right with Kittsley until No. 12, where he had a bogey.
During the first two rounds, Turowski had eagled the hole.
“I was licking my chops after I bombed a drive,” Turowski said. “I had 160 (yards) in and used my pitching wedge.
“It hit on the front of the green and rolled off. I chipped up, and it went off the back. It was a learning experience. That is golf.”