FRANKLIN TWP — A playoff to determine the Butler Eagle County Amateur golf champion has occurred only once.

Geoff Patterson sank a par putt to defeat Jeremy Plaisted by a single stroke on the first playoff hole at Lake Arthur Golf Club in 2020. The 29th annual Eagle Amateur returns to that facility Aug. 13.

“This is our first time back there since then,” Eagle Amateur committee member Rob Voltz said. “We’ve had some great tournaments there. The course is always well-groomed and is very challenging.

“You have to play a very solid 18 holes to win.”

The Eagle Amateur is a one day, 18-hole stroke play event. Only five golfers — Sean Knapp (five times), Mark Young, Scott Vice, Rob Voltz and Patterson — have ever won it twice. Knapp and Patterson are the only two to ever win it in consecutive years.

Besides Knapp’s run of five Eagle Amateur titles in six years — 2008-13 — the tournament has been up for grabs every year. From 1996 through 2008, no golfer won it twice.

“I know Lake Arthur well because my son plays for BC3 and that’s their home course,” Voltz said. “I’ve walked around the course and it is in excellent condition. The greens are fast for a public golf course.”

Troy Loughry won the 2022 Eagle Amateur at Hiland Golf Course, carding a 67 to edge Logan Pistorius by one stroke and Plaisted by two. Hiland, Lake Arthur and Slippery Rock are in a three-course rotation hosting the event.

More than 180 golfers competed in the tourney last year. Voltz said his annual goal is 144 golfers or more.

“We can fill out a field with 144,” he said. “All of these courses have regular golfers there who play in the tournament and support their home course. Lake Arthur has a number of members who always do that.”

The Eagle Amateur features shotgun starts of 7:45 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. Entry fee is $80, or $90 after Aug. 1. Entry fee includes green fees, Skins game (by flights) and prizes. Golfers are placed in either the championship flight, first, second or third flight based on their golf handicap.

“Voltz pointed out that the number of golfers in each flight has been getting more balanced the past couple of years.

“There’s always more golfers in the championship and first flights,” he said. “But this tournament is for everybody.”

There is a seniors division for golfers 50 and older, along with a women’s division.

“We’re always looking for more women to play in this event,” Voltz said. “We’ve had a steady group of six to eight participating. We’d love to add to that total.

“Our entry fee has gone up as the price of golf has gone up. We’re trying to keep our total prize money consistent from year to year.”

For more information or to register, contact Voltz at 724-822-4189 or email him at rvoltz@zoominternet.net.

BUTLER EAGLE COUNTY AMATEUR

Previous winners

1995-Mark Young, 1996-Jim Hepler, 1997-Bill Black, 1998-Dave Hungerman, 1999-Sean Swidzinski, 2000-Greg Minda, 2001-Chuck Young, 2002-Mark Young, 2003-Chris Morrow, 2004-Mike Toubakaris, 2005-Doug Knox, 2006-Nathan Bilski, 2007-Rob Voltz, 2008-10-Sean Knapp, 2011-Bennett Smith, 2012-13-Sean Knapp, 2014-Mike Morrow, 2015-Scott Vice, 2016-Rob Voltz, 2017-Scott Vice, 2018-Jimmy Enslen, 2019-Brent Rodgers, 2020-21-Geoff Patterson, 2022-Troy Loughry