The Pennsylvania Golf Association

*Day One results

Butler’s Pratkanis still ahead, pursuers mount

FARMINGTON, Pa.–Jon Pratkanis, the 20-year-old amateur from Butler, Pa., who unexpectedly charged into the lead of the 90th Pennsylvania Open Championship after an opening-round 66 yesterday, remained atop the leaderboard on Tuesday after finishing 36 holes in 5-under par (139 total). Pratkanis carded a 1-over-par 73 on the difficult Nemacolin at Woodlands Resort Mystic Rock Course (par 72, 7,049 yards) and holds a one-stroke advantage on Rob Shuey, 44, a teaching professional from Mechanicsburg, Pa. Shuey moved up the scoreboard with a 5-under-par 67.

Kyle Davis, 20, of Kennett Square, Pa., a soon-to-be sophomore at the University of Central Florida, Nicolas Milito, 18, of Jeannetta, Pa., a soon-to-be freshman at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and Conrad Von Borsig, 19, of Swarthmore, Pa., a soon-to-be sophomore at the University of Virginia, are tied for third place at 3-under par (141 total).

ROB SHUEY

A total of nine players are at even par or better. A cut to the low 40 players and ties for the third and final round fell at 6-over-par 150. A total of 41 players advanced.

Pratkanis and Shuey begin their quest for the title in the final pairing of the tournament at 10:50 a.m.

“I didn’t want to try and force anything today,” said Pratkanis, a member at Kittanning CC. “I wanted to hit a lot of greens and make some putts. Unfortunately, I only did half of that. I had plenty of opportunities but I couldn’t get anything to fall into the hole.”

Pratkanis hit 12 greens in regulation but again needed 31 total putts.

Following a first round in which he made an eagle and five birdies, Pratkanis managed only two red digit scores on Tuesday. He birdied Nos. 8 (par 5, 491 yards) after burning the edge from 20 feet for eagle and 10 (par 4, 438 yards) when he punched a pitching wedge from 109 yards to eight feet. Pratkanis opened with a bogey on No. 1 (par 4, 368 yards) when he left his second shot in the bunker and made over-par numbers on No. 11 (par 5, 613 yards), a poor approach, and No. 13 (par 4, 369 yards), when his second shot bounced off a mound located over the green and landed in the water.

“I hit a lot of good irons shots and I made a lot of short putts which sometimes cause some problems but I can’t get [any] long [putts] to fall,” said Pratkanis, who plans on heading to Orlando and the Leadbetter Academy this fall. “[A win] would obviously be the biggest [moment] in my career, by far.”

Pratkanis enjoyed a stellar junior career, winning the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association’s Boys Championship as a 16 year old and the C.R. Miller Match Play Invitational the following year.

Pratkanis did head to Duquesne [University in 2004-05] after high school but left college after a year and as recently as last winter was in Arizona building and racing high horsepower street cars.

He said he lost “interest in the game,” during college but it has been rejuvenated this summer.

Shuey, the 2002 Philadelphia Section of the PGA Player of the Year, opened his round with three birdies and a bogey for an outward 33. He knocked a pitching wedge on No. 4 (par 4, 383 yards) to three feet for birdie, had a kick-in one on the par 5, 8th hole and drained a 20-footer for another on No. 9 (par 4, 415 yards).

“I stole one there,” said Shuey of No. 9.

He added a birdie on No. 11 when he sent a 120-yard wedge to five feet and after bogeying the difficult 12th (par 3, 166 yards), the result of a poor chip shot, bounced back with a 15-foot three on No. 13 (par 4, 369 yards). “That was big,” he added.

He penned more red on the scorecard with birdies on No. 15 (par 4, 433 yards), a 175-yard, 7-iron to 10 feet, and No. 16 (par 5, 517 yards), an 80-yard wedge shot to a foot.

“I wanted to get to even par today and have a chance in the last round,” said Shuey. “I’m ecstatic after today.

“To be able to win a State Open at this point in my career in which a lot of my friends have already done so would be great. It would be nice to have my name including on the trophy with all those other names. But there is a long way to go before we get to that point.”

Shuey’s top Open finish came in 2001 at Sunnehanna CC when he tied for third.

This is Pratkanis’ first Open experience.

NOTES–This is the first time the Pennsylvania Open Championship has visited the Nemacolin at Woodlands Resort, site of the PGA Tour’s 84 Lumber Classic … Eric Fonner of Abington, Pa., aced the treacherous 17th hole (par 3, 201 yards) with a 5-iron. It was the first hole-in-one of the tournament ... A total of 132 players comprised the Open Championship field.

Name, hometown	Rd. 1	Rd. 2	Total
Jon Pratkanis, Butler, PA	66	73	139
Robert Shuey, Mechanicsburg, PA	73	67	140
Conrad Von Borsig, Swathmore, PA	70	71	141
Kyle Davis, Kennett Square, PA	70	71	141
Nicolas Milito, Jeannette, PA	75	66	141
Robert McClellan, Butler, PA	73	69	142
Scott Ehrlich, Blue Bell, PA	70	72	142
Mark Sheftic, Ambler, PA	73	70	143
Rich Steinmetz, Gilbertsville, PA	73	70	143
Geoffrey Kelowitz, Jim Thorpe, PA	75	70	145
Kevin Shields, Bethel Park, PA	72	73	145
Sean Farren, Oakmont, PA	69	76	145
Artie Fink, Jr., Altoona, PA	69	77	146
Bob Ford, Oakmont, PA	73	73	146
Bob Friend, Pittsburgh, PA	73	73	146
Brian Kelly, Lewisburg, PA	71	75	146
Cole Willcox, Berwyn, PA	71	75	146
George Forster, Villanova, PA	76	70	146
John Mazza, Beaver Falls, PA	72	74	146
Robert Rohanna, Waynesburg, PA	73	73	146
Travis Deibert, Doylestown, PA	73	73	146
Gordon Vietmeier, Pittsburgh, PA	74	73	147
John Michael Pelet, Atglen, PA	74	73	147
John Sawin, Haverford, PA	73	74	147
Dan Thompson, Johnstown, PA	76	72	148
Greg King, Harrisburg, PA	78	70	148
John Pillar, Sr., Hawley, PA	74	74	148
Roy Vucinich, Moon Twp, PA	73	75	148
Tug Maude, Rosemont, PA	73	75	148
Arnie Cutrell, Greensburg, PA	73	76	149
Gregory Pieczynski, Kingston, PA	78	71	149
Philip Bartholomew, Yardley, PA	73	76	149
Terry Hertzog, Lititz, PA	75	74	149
Alex Knoll, Bethlehem, PA	77	73	150
Clint Deibert, Doylestown, PA	76	74	150
David DeNunzio, Jeannette, PA	76	74	150
Jason Tyska, Mt. Pleasant, PA	79	71	150
Mark DiGiacomo, Lebanon, PA	74	76	150
Ryan Sikora, Greensburg, PA	76	74	150
Tyler Brewington, Orangeville, PA	75	75	150
Tyler Witman, Manheim, PA	74	76	150

Failed to qualify
Robby Walizer, State College, PA	79	72	151
Russell Harbold, Lancaster, PA	79	72	151
Brian Belden, Jr., Emmaus, PA	72	80	152
Chase Duncan, Lancaster, PA	76	76	152
Dan Walters, Lititz, Pa.	76	76	152
Ed Perrino, Mifflintown, PA	76	76	152
Eric Fonner, Abington, PA	78	74	152
Eric Williams, Honesdale, PA	78	74	152
Graham Dendler, Havertown, PA	77	75	152
Adam Corson, State College, PA	77	76	153
Brian Tutich, Greensburg, PA	79	74	153
Chad Bricker, Waynesboro, PA	75	78	153
Chris Gallagher, West Chester, PA	76	77	153
David Wedzik, North East, PA	79	74	153
Harvin Groft, State College, PA	75	78	153
Jim McGrath, Connellsville, PA	79	74	153
Joe Boros, Saxonburg, PA	79	74	153
John Spina, Schwenksville, PA	73	80	153
Sean Knapp, Oakmont, PA	78	75	153
Shawn Lavin, Drexel Hill, PA	78	75	153
Chad Zelenak, Punxsutawney, PA	78	76	154
Christopher Ault, Yardley, PA	76	78	154
David Olexson, Easton, PA	75	79	154
Doug Stadler, Wexford, PA	79	75	154
Jake Pleczkowski, Valencia, PA	81	73	154
John Aubrey, Butler, PA	79	75	154
Stephen Arnold, Langhorne, PA	72	82	154
Stuart Ingraham, Newtown Square, PA	74	80	154
Tony Perla, Collegeville, PA	77	77	154
Travis Dickson, Butler, PA	74	80	154
Dan Pinciotti, Jr., Churchville, PA	74	81	155
Joe Corsi, Greensburg, PA	79	76	155
Joshua Krumholz, Reading, PA	82	73	155
Kevin Nicholson, Lansdale, PA	76	79	155
Brandon Detweiler, Akron, PA	80	76	156
Michael Brown, Cheltenham, PA	79	77	156
Thomas Ryan, Collegeville, PA	77	79	156
Jim Haus, Lititz, PA	79	78	157
Michael Gross, Clarks Green, PA	81	76	157
Henry D'Alberto, Easton, PA	79	79	158
James Bohn, Lewisburg, PA	83	75	158
Lucas Serbun, Abington, PA	78	80	158
Matthew Mattare, Bethlehem, PA	77	81	158
William Smith, Newville, PA	79	79	158
Christopher Reedman, Yardley, PA	78	81	159
Dave Figura, Langhorne, PA	78	81	159
Jacob Wetzel, Blue Ridge Summit, PA	80	79	159
Jim Cichra, Pittsburgh, PA	82	77	159
Rich Thon, Swarthmore, PA	80	79	159
Tyler Glassman, Ft. Washington, PA	77	82	159
Brian Corbett, Shavertown, PA	81	79	160
Paul Oglesby, Ardmore, PA	86	74	160
James Rattigan, Orwigsburg, PA	84	77	161
Robin McCool, Bethlehem, PA	80	81	161
Ronald DeNunzio, Jeannette, PA	78	83	161
Steven Wager, State College, PA	81	80	161
Vincent Zachetti, Greensburg, PA	78	83	161
Charles Tait, Harrisburg, PA	80	82	162
Cody Kersey, Fredericksburg, PA	77	85	162
Malcolm Spatz, Allison Park, PA	83	79	162
Ryan Franks, Bethel Park, PA	83	79	162
Bennett Boyer, Millersburg, PA	83	80	163
Justin Hilgert, Delaware Water Gap, PA	82	81	163
Stu Michaels, Curwensville, PA	82	81	163
Joseph Cordaro, Pittsburgh, PA	80	84	164
Cole Peffer, Philadelphia, PA	82	83	165
Joe Cunningham, Blue Bell, PA	85	80	165
Ryan Gelrod, Warminster, PA	84	81	165
Eric McNamee, Exton, PA	82	84	166
Mitch Mercer, Wexford, PA	87	79	166
Robert Loftus, Bryn Mawr, PA	88	78	166
Scott Kegerreis, Chambersburg, PA	82	84	166
Adam Langford, Gibsonia, PA	87	80	167
Andrew Hardin, Bethlehem, PA	84	83	167
Dennis Clark, Farmington , PA	86	81	167
Kevin Reiber, Waynesboro, PA	85	82	167
Christopher Sturgell, Malvern, PA	84	84	168
Scott Jenkins, Erie, PA	81	87	168
Brian Sterlitz, Natrona Heights, PA	90	79	169
Bryan Ott, Whitehall, PA	84	85	169
Sean Smyth, Harrisburg, PA	83	87	170
Trevor Pope, Elizabethtown, PA	82	88	170
Geoff Forcino, Malvern, PA	91	80	171
Miles Blundell, Farmington , PA	84	87	171
Glenn D Dolfi, Sewickley, PA	94	83	177
Michael DiGiandomenico, Elverson, PA	87	93	180
David Malatak, Pittsburgh, PA	79	WD	WD

WD-withdrawal

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