Butler’s Scintillating 65 Leads Mid-Am at Scranton

Scorecards

CLARKS SUMMIT, Pa. - Huntingdon Valley Country Club’s Andy Butler rode a run of four consecutive birdies among his eight on the day on his way to a scorching score of 65 (-7) and the lead after the first round of the 29th Pennsylvania Middle-Amateur Championship, presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, at the Country Club of Scranton. Butler’s score was four clear of the rest of the field after the first 18 holes of the 36-hole championship. 

“Everything was working well today,” Butler said. “I kept it in play all day and the big thing was that I just hit a lot of good wedge shots and I did not have a three-putt.”

Butler got to the par-5 14th hole on the classic Walter Travis design at 3-under par for the round, a solid score that would’ve had him near the top of the leaderboard if he finished there. But he proceeded to birdie the next four holes to break through and give himself a nice cushion heading into Tuesday’s final round. 

“I was really comfortable out there all day,” Butler said. “I hit a lot of approach shots close, which certainly helped.”

The birdie binge started on the 14th, where his second shot from 247 yards out in the left rough trickled on and almost to the back of the green. A two-putt from there put Butler at 4-under for the day. Then on No. 15, a 403-yard par 4, he faced a tricky approach with a tree partially in the way but navigated around it with a brilliant shot to about five feet and rolled in another putt. 

With the momentum on his side, he moved to No. 16 where he hit hybrid from the tee and was 177 yards out for his approach. He flushed a solid 8-iron that one-hopped up on the green to three feet, with the putt again finding the bottom of the cup. 

Then on the par-3 17th, from 225 yards out, he hit a 3-hybrid that was right on line but ended up about 35 feet short. But as things went for most of the day, the putt broke Butler’s way and found its way in for a fourth straight red number.

“I hit a good putt with good speed there and it dropped right in,” said Butler. 

Butler had just one bogey on the round (No. 9) and is in good position to capitalize and win his first PAGA championship Tuesday. He found himself in a similar position in the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s recent Patterson Cup and said he’ll use that to help him on Tuesday. 

“Playing in the final group at the Patterson, that was a great experience for me,” stated Butler. “I’m looking forward to using that tomorrow.”

In second place, four shots behind Butler, is St. Davids Golf Club’s Corey Betham, who shot a solid 69 (-3) and will play with Butler on Tuesday. Blue Bell Country Club’s Daniel Oh is in third place at 2-under par. Five golfers are tied for fourth at 1-under par. 

The Pennsylvania Golf Association would like to thank the staff and membership of the Country Club of Scranton for the hospitality shown during the championship. Thanks as well to DICK’S Sporting Goods for sponsorship of the event.