Ellery Tarbell and Doug Fugate, both from Erie, won the 2009 WPGA Four-Ball in a playoff at New Castle with Dave Higinbotham and Arnold Cutrell. The duo shot 65-69–134, while Higinbotham and Cutrell recorded 66-68.  A few weeks later in the Erie District GA Senior Four-Ball, the Tarbell/Fugate due won in a playoff again, this time against Bob Paris and Jim McKibben, after both groups shot 65 at Lawrence Park.

The Nationwide Tour heads to Western Pennsylvania next year with the Mylan Classic, to be played at Southpointe Golf Club, Canonsburg, Augtust 30-September 5.

Joining forces with the Tour are Southpointe, Mylan, and the Washington County Chamber of Commerce. Mylan is a pharmaceutical firm located in the Southpointe Commerce Park that adjoins the course.  The purse will be $600,000, with the winner’s share at $108,000.

Press Release on Mylan Classic

Information on registering for the Club Leadership Work is below.

Leadership Workshop Memo (12/15/09)
Registration Form (12/15/09)

Bobby MacWhinnie, Charlotte, NC, whose family lives in Upper St. Clair, rallied from a 76-74 start to gain full status on the Nationwide Tour in the PGA Tour Final Qualifying Rounds at Bear Lakes CC, West Palm Beach, Florida, December 2-7. His scores of 76-74-71-70-70-69–430 tied for 72nd. MacWhinnie also fired 68 in the final round of the PGA Tour’s second stage to make it to the finals right on the number. The top 25 and ties received 2010 PGA Tour cards, so MacWhinnie’s four final rounds of 280 enabled him to secure the Nationwide Tour spot.

Steve Wheatcroft, from Washington, PA, was t-48, with 74-79-73-73-72-68–428.  He has secured his 2010 PGA Tour card by finishing 20th on the 2009 Nationwide Tour’s money list.

Jon Mills, Indiana, PA, who had already gained his 2010 Nationwide Tour status, shot 78-71-71-72-71-71–438, tied for 98th.

The WPGA office will be open, 8:30-4:00, Monday through Thursday, and 8:30-noon on Friday. Staff members Jeff Rivard and Terry Teasdale are otherwise available via e-mail and cell phone.

Greensburg native Rocco Mediate, scheduled to compete in the PGA Tour’s Final Qualifying School, withdrew prior to the first round. He finished 133rd on the 2009 PGA Tour money list with just under $500,000 in winnings, eight spots from being exempt for the 2010 season. Mediate is likely to play in many PGA Tour competitions in 2010, as most players who are 126-150 on the 2009 money list.

The winter Club Leadership Workshop will take place at Allegheny Country Club in Sewickley on Saturday, January 30.  The morning session will conclude with lunch.

Scheduled for the program are two National Club Association’s officials–President & CEO Suzanne R. Wegrzyn and Secretary Michael Hardy. The National Club Association, with offices in Washington, DC, is a major service and lobbying group for private clubs in the USA. Wegrzyn, the CEO, is from Washington, DC, and Secretary Hardy, a volunteer elected official, is an attorney from Cleveland and a member at Canterbury Country Club.

Highland Country Club, one of Pittsburgh’s oldest with great traditions, donated $2650 to the WPGA Scholarship Fund, the second largest among WPGA Member Clubs to the Fund this year.

In 1922, the club hired a young pro from Westchester County, NY, who had previously been employed at Titusville Country Club. His name–Gene Sarazen. While employed at Highland, he taught a youngster by the name of Sam Parks, who later won the 1935 US Open at Oakmont. Sarazen took a week off from his duties to win the 1922 US Open at Skokie CC, near Chicago. Upon receiving another job offer after winning the title, he did not return. Other golfers from Highland include George Ormiston, winner of the 1899 and 1903 West Penn Amateurs.  He also was the Association’s first Executive Secretary. Another is Bob Reilly, an outstanding WPIAL golfer who was an All-American at the University of Pittsburgh.  He won four straight West Penn Amateurs, 1960-63. All four of these golfers are in the WPGA’s History Makers, the top 100 golfers of its centennial.

Competitors in the 2010 USGA Open Locals will not be required to play clubs conforming the new grooves USGA regulations that go into effect on January 1. The only USGA competitions in 2010 that will implement these rules are Sectional Qualifying Rounds for the US Open, US Women’s Open, and US Senior Open and the championships.

USGA Open Local Qualifying Rounds will use these rules beginning in 2011.

Amateur competitions conducted by the WPGA will begin the use of the USGA regulations in 2014, in line with the USGA’s policy for their competitions. “The regulations control the cross-sectional area of grooves on all clubs,
with the exception of drivers and putters, and limit groove edge sharpness on clubs with lofts equal to or greater than 25 degrees (generally a standard 5-iron and above). The rules apply to clubs submitted to the USGA for conformance evaluation on or after January 1, 2010″ (USGA Press Release).

The WPGA Championship Committee will soon make a decision on clubs that can be used in West Penn Opens, 2011 and beyond. The 2010 West Penn Open will not require contestants to play clubs conformiong to the new USGA regulations.

Steve Wheatcroft, a Washington, PA, native, will compete in the PGA Tour School Qualifying Finals, December 2-7, at Bear Lakes GC, West Palm Beach, Florida. He has already secured a PGA Tour card for 2010, so he’s playing to move up the rankings. A strong performance will result in his playing in more early season PGA Tour events.

Rocco Mediate, a Greensburg, PA, native, and runner-up in the 2008 US Open, will be playing to continue his career on the PGA Tour in 2010 without having to use exemptions. He finished 145th on this year’s money list with $484,757, resulting in his being exempt from the first two stages of qualifying. Mediate. 46, is among a handful of area players to record multiple victories on the PGA Tour during his long career. His five wins–1991 Doral; 1999 and 2002, Greensboro; 2000–Buick and Phoenix. Mediate is 44th in career earnings on the PGA Tour.