Mike O'Rourke Seizes First GLT Win; James Weber Chalks Up Number Two in the Days Inn Steel City Classic
Mike O'Rourke playing the Monroeville, PA Course.27 April 2002 - Monroeville, PA - It’s been sixteen years since PPA competition above the local level has been held in the Pittsburgh area. Back in 1986, a young Mike O’Rourke bested the field on course 2 at the original location of the Monroeville Putt-Putt to win his first PPA tournament on the Ohio State Tour. Sixteen years later and half a mile down the street, Mike picked up right where he left off by scorching course 2 of the beautiful modern Putt-Putt Golf and Games on Northern Pike.
Mike put it away early on his home course, firing opening rounds of 24-25 to open a gaping six shot margin over John Ventura of Cincinnati, OH and fellow Monroeville player Craig Williams. Mike’s final tally of 77 set a new 54-hole course record for course 2.
James Weber, APA winner of the Days Inn Steel City Classic.A dramatic battle for the World Match Play Championship spot developed between Ventura and Canfield, Ohio’s Jim Engel. The two players matched aces down the stretch until Ventura’s clutch ace on tricky hole 9 clinched the spot by a single stroke over Engel. John finished in second place, three shots behind O’Rourke, with a score of 80.
Craig Williams continued to play solid throughout the match play portion of the competition, defeating Jim Engel in the final match. Interestingly, the top four finishers in the medal play also claimed the four cash positions in the match play.
Mike O'Rourke and James Weber (left to right).Meanwhile, Cincinnati’s James Weber continued his winning ways by claiming the APA division of the event. James is proving that he is a leading contender among GLT amateurs, winning two of the first three events. After the first round, James trailed local APA member Zach Washa by two shots. But through consistent and steady play, James outlasted the rest of the field. His rounds of 28-28-29 (85) were good enough for a three stroke victory over Washa and Bill Wahls of North Ridgeville, OH. A playoff for the GLT spot ensued between the two second place finishers. Bill Wahls knocked in the 18th hole claim the spot by a single stroke.
Another battle between local players developed in the finals of the APA match play. Walt Kizzie defeated Karen Hastings to claim the GLT spot.
Most of the time James Weber is the only southpaw at a GLT event, but he had plenty of company on hole 13 where many players in the field opted to play the hole left-handed. PPA players usually find whatever it takes to score those holes-in-one!
The Great Lakes Tour is truly grateful to the Days Inn Monroeville for their hospitality, as well as their sponsorship of the Steel City Classic.
Scores provided and tournament recap provided by Bill Thompson.
Professional Division of the Days Inn Steel City Classic
(Monroeville, PA - Course #2 - 27 April 2002)
Round Prize GLT Match GLT WPC Player 1 2 3 Total Money Points Play Spots Spots 1 Mike O'Rourke 24 25 28 77 $140.00 115.00 1-1 MEDAL 2 John Ventura 27 28 25 80 $115.00 100.00 1-1 1 3 Jim Engel 28 28 25 81 $115.00 95.00 3-1 4 Craig Williams 30 25 27 82 $130.00 95.00 4-0 MEDAL 5 Jim Cruse 27 29 27 83 $62.50 67.50 0-1 John Bambling 28 30 25 83 $62.50 72.50 1-1 7 John Tuite 26 30 28 84 $15.00 62.50 1-1 Ken Hastings 29 29 26 84 $15.00 57.50 0-1 9 Bill Thompson 31 27 27 85 56.00 1-1 10 Bill Baus 27 34 26 87 47.00 0-1 11 John Darst 30 32 31 93 43.00 0-1 12 Dom Perry 33 27 34 94 39.00 1-1 Karl Moe 30 31 33 94 34.00 0-1 Harry Sykes 30 32 32 94 34.00 0-1 Amateur Division of the Days Inn Steel City Classic
(Monroeville, PA - Course #2 - 27 April 2002)
Round Expense GLT Match GLT Player
1
2
3
Total
Money
Points
Play
Spots
1 James Weber 28 28 29 85 $30.00 45.00 0-1 2 Bill Wahls 28 31 29 88 $25.00 37.00 0-1 MEDAL Zach Washa 26 33 29 88 $35.00 39.00 1-1 4 Walt Kizzie 31 30 28 89 $45.00 39.00 3-0 MEDAL Don Cherry 31 27 31 89 $25.00 32.00 1-1 6 Barb Mingo 31 29 30 90 26.00 0-1 7 Karen Hastings 29 32 30 91 $15.00 30.00 3-1 Jeff Brown 30 29 32 91 23.00 0-1 9 Anthony Amick 30 29 33 92 $10.00 25.00 2-1 10 Al Linhart 34 28 34 96 18.00 0-1 11 Andy McCoy 31 31 35 97 19.00 1-1 12 Bill Combs 33 35 31 99 15.00 0-1
