FRANKLIN TWP — The 20th annual Butler Eagle Amateur Open will be missing a familiar face this year.

Sean Knapp, winner of five of the past six Eagle Amateurs, will not be among the field Aug. 10 when the 18-hole stroke play tournament takes place at Lake Arthur Country Club.

The St. Jude Golf Club member has qualified for the U.S. Amateur Championship, scheduled for Aug. 11-17 in Atlanta, Ga. Knapp is heading to Atlanta on Aug. 8.

“Obviously, this is a conflict I can’t avoid,” Knapp, 52, said. “My heart will be there. I am disappointed I can’t play.

“I’ve had a good run (in the Eagle Amateur) and I feel like I had an opportunity to do something historic. Now I won’t get that chance.”

Knapp has qualified for the U.S. Amateur 14 times. He reached the round of eight in 1998, his best finish in the tournament. He played against Tiger Woods at the U.S. Amateur in 1995.

Knapp qualified for this year’s U.S. Amateur by carding a 139 for 36 holes July 22 on the Silver Course at Treasure Lake in Dubois. He earned the second of two qualifying spots there, joining Jeannette’s Ronald Denunzio, who shot a 137.

“Golf’s really undergone a metamorphosis over the past five years in terms of physical athleticism,” Knapp said. “Younger players are hitting 350 (yards) off the tee with accuracy. Those guys are coming out of the woodwork.

“I used to be able to make up for that with chipping, putting ... not anymore. These guys are strong in all areas of the game.”

With Knapp out of the Eagle Amateur, “there is no clear favorite,” committee member John Carpenter said.

Before Knapp first played in the tourney in 2008, the Eagle Amateur had produced 12 different winners in 12 years. The most recent was Rob Voltz in 2007.

Nathan Bilski won the 2006 Eagle Amateur at Lake Arthur.

“There are still a lot of good players in the field,” Voltz said. “Lake Arthur is a course that plays well. There’s a lot of birdie holes.

“If you’re playing well, you can shoot a good number on that course.”

Carpenter said nearly 100 golfers have registered for the event, which has available tee times at 7:45 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. He emphasized that the afternoon session is filling up quickly.

“There are still some spots there, but anyone wanting to play in the afternoon round should sign up quickly,” Carpenter said.

Bilski has only played the Eagle Amateur off and on since winning in 2006. He said he’ll miss Knapp’s presence this year.

“I know a number of golfers felt there was little chance to win the championship flight with Sean there, but I liked it,” Bilski said. “Sean set the bar high.

“I like the high level of competition. I think it’s a good thing for the tournament. It’s always cool to play in an event with a golfer of that caliber.”

Jeremy Plaisted finished second to Knapp in last year’s Eagle Amateur, carding a 1-under-par 69 at Cranberry Highlands. Knapp shot a 64.

“The (U.S. Amateur) opportunity is fantastic for him and I wish him well,” Plaisted said. “But his absence definitely opens up the field for the rest of us.

“There’s still a lot of good players and there will be plenty of competition. The fairways at Lake Arthur are open, but there are some new trees lining them. Wind up outside of those trees and it could spell trouble.”

Plaisted said he plans to be ready for the tournament, “but not if it took place tomorrow.”

“My game’s been on and off. I haven’t been able to get out enough,” he said.

The Eagle Amateur entry fee of $65 does not include a cart. It covers greens fees, skins games by flight and prizes.

Golfers may register for the event by calling Carpenter at 724-794-4040, by filling out an entry from one of the periodic ads in the Butler Eagle, or by getting a form from area golf courses.