McClellan aces test on his home course
67 scorches field; playoff with eight sets other 3 spots
Nobody in the field of 72 players could catch the host pro, Rob McClellan, who set a fast and torrid pace by pulling an old reliable putter from the garage and navigating greens that were smooth as a billiard table.
McClellan went out on his home track and shot 3-under 67 to easily grab one of four spots available in a U.S. Open qualifier Wednesday at Butler Country Club. The closest pursuers — eight of them, forcing one of the largest playoffs in recent memory — werefour shots behind.
“The greens were fantastic,” McClellan said. “It’s unbelievable how good they are. I can’t imagine a golf course around here with greens this good.”
McClellan liked them so much he needed only 28 putts, rolling in birdie putts of 25 feet at No. 2, 30 feet at the par-3 10th and 20 feet at No. 14. Even when his approach at the 443-yard ninth hole hit the side of the green and spun on to the adjacent practice putting green, McClellan two-putted from 100 feet to save par.
He was so sharp in dusting the field he didn’t even have to putt at No 8, a short 330-yard par-4, one-hopping a lob wedge into the hole from 94 yards for eagle. It is the fifth time McClellan, 37, has qualified to advance to a 36-hole sectional qualifier.
“Hitting putts and seeing them go in is nice,” McClellan said.
McClellan was the only player in the field to shoot par or better, leaving eight players who tied at 71 to battle for the other three qualifying spots. Former West Penn Golf Association executive director Jeff Rivard said it was the largest playoff in the 24 years he has been running the association.
The survivors were amateurs Pat Luth of Medina, Ohio, a senior and No. 1 player at Cleveland State University; two-time West Penn Public Links champ Erik Bertrand of Pittsburgh; and Thaddeus Obecny II of Wheeling, W.Va.
Two area high-school players — 2014 PIAA and 2015 WPIAL champion Jason Li of Sewickley Academy and Latrobe sophomore Brady Pevarnik — were eliminated in the playoff. Li, who lost on the fourth playoff hole with a bogey, is first alternate.
It was retribution for Luth, who tried to qualify last year at Butler and had a disastrous finish, playing the last six holes in 6 over and shooting 74. “This feels good to qualify this year,” said Luth, who birdied the second playoff hole (No. 9) to grab the first playoff spot. “I liked the course so I came back.”
Actually, Luth, 21, made the two-hour drive to Western Pennsylvania somewhat out of necessity. He couldn’t play in his area 18-hole qualifier, which was Tuesday at Beechwood Country Club in Beachwood, Ohio, because he had his final exams that day. Some of his Cleveland State teammates did and didn’t qualify.
So he opted for this test at Butler, where he had to wait nearly five hours for a playoff after going out in the second group of the day at 7:55 a.m. Unlike his teammates, he is moving on. “I like taking these exams better,” Luth said. “They’re a lot more fun.”