Pillar Takes Inaugural Senior Open
ALLENTOWN, Pa. - John Pillar, Sr. knew that he was in good position after shooting an opening round 65 in the inaugural Pennsylvania Senior Open at Lehigh Country Club. And after making birdies on three of the first six holes in Tuesday’s final round, Pillar went into cruise control with a lead that got as high as nine strokes. At the end, he posted a 72 for the day and a 3-under par 137 over 36 holes for a 4-shot victory in the event, which was presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods. For his efforts, Pillar collected the $4,000 low professional check.
“I had to figure out what to do with a lead like that because I’ve never been in that situation,” said Pillar, the Director of Golf at Woodloch Springs Resort.
The win is the second in his career in a Pennsylvania Golf Association event for Pillar, who was the champion of the 2014 Pennsylvania Open at the Country Club of York. This time, the 53-year old put his name in the record books as the first-ever winner of the Senior Open.
“I hate to say it but its overdue,” Pillar said of the Senior Open being on the schedule. “I think it’s incredible to have this event for the whole state.”
The fast start on day two began with back-to-back birdies on holes 2 and 3, which Pillar accomplished both days in the championship. On the second hole, he hit a nice drive and then hit lob wedge to six feet and rolled in the birdie. He followed that with a 5-iron on the par-3 third that landed on the left side of the green and rolled down the slope, settling at about four feet where he converted the putt for another birdie. From there, he added another birdie on the par-5 sixth hole from 15 feet, and despite a bogey on the eighth, he held an 8-stroke advantage when he made the turn to the back nine of the classic William Flynn layout. Despite the winds picking up and the temperature going down, Pillar was able to hold on for his second state championship.
“I just played basic straightforward golf and tried to hit greens and get through it,” said Pillar, who turns 54 on Thursday.
The only other player under par overall for the event at any point in the second round was runner-up Oscar Mestre, an amateur from Overbrook Golf Club. Mestre followed up an opening round 71 (E) with an even par 70 on Tuesday. Mestre got within five shots of Pillar after the latter made a double bogey on the par-4 12th, but that was as close as the margin got for the remainder of the day.
“I decided I wouldn’t look at the leaderboard at all until after the ninth hole,” said Mestre. “I just wanted to play as well as I could, and wherever that puts me, I’m okay with that.”
Despite not being able to catch Pillar, the consolation prize was pretty good as Mestre earned low amateur honors.
“If I couldn’t win, I definitely wanted to try to finish second,” Mestre said. “It’s such a great golf course. I really love this golf course and it’s great to play well here.”
Over the 36 holes, Pillar carded nine birdies, more than any golfer in the field. He carried a five-stroke lead into the final 18 holes and the closest anyone got in the 107-player field was the final margin after a meaningless bogey on the final hole of the event.
“I can’t say enough about the conditions of this golf course,” Pillar said. “I just played in the PGA Professional Championship [at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla.] and those conditions were perfect, and this was just as good this week.”
After Mestre, fellow amateur Sean Knapp finished third at 144 (+4), while amateurs Rich Pruchnik and Chris Fieger, Sr. tied for fourth at 5-over par 145.
The overall purse for the event was $15,000, which was split among the top 15 professionals. After Pillar, the rest of the top five on the professional leaderboard were: David McNabb at +5 ($2,000) and Kevin Kraft at +6 ($1,500).
The Pennsylvania Golf Association would like to thank the staff and membership of Lehigh Country Club for the hospitality in hosting the championship. Special thanks as well to DICK’S Sporting Goods for sponsorship of the event.