2024 PA Amateur Day 1 Recap
Sheehan, Isztwan tied for lead at 111th Pennsylvania Amateur
HUNTINGDON VALLEY, Pa. – After the first round of play at the 111th Pennsylvania Amateur Championship, two men sit alone at the top of the leaderboard: Talamore Country Club’s Patrick Sheehan and Patrick Isztwan of Huntingdon Valley Country Club – which, as luck would have it, is the host of the event in 2024. Both golfers ended the day at three-under-par with scores of 67, one stroke ahead of a second group of four competitors tied with two-under-par 68’s.
Sheehan, who is coming off a title in the Pennsylvania Golf Association (PAGA) R. Jay Sigel Match Play Championship, played an incredibly consistent first round, hitting 17 of 18 greens. He birdied holes No. 7, 10, 13, and 15, with the only trouble spot coming from a bogey on 17 – the only green Sheehan didn’t hit.
“Hitting 17 greens is pretty nice but you need a lot of luck,” said Sheehan. “I missed a couple of fairways but my lies were pretty decent so that helps, as well. I've struggled putting ever since the Sigel and if a couple more putts had dropped today it would have been a really good round. I've been hitting the ball well for a while now and I'm happy with that. I kind of know where the ball's going, now it's just a matter of getting it in the hole. That's what I'm trying to be better at.”
Isztwan, one of nine Huntingdon Valley CC members in this year’s field, had a round full of highs and lows. He sprinted out of the gates with four birdies on the front nine – on holes 1, 3, 4, and 8 – but kicked off the back nine with a double bogey on the par four 10th hole. He canceled that out, though, with an eagle on the par five 15th, and added a birdie on 16 before ending the round with a bogey on 18.
The aforementioned group of golfers tied for third place at two-under includes Evan Eichenlaub (Saucon Valley CC), John F. Aber (Allegheny CC), David Colleran (Overbrook GC), and Evan Barbin (Philadelphia Publinks).
Only three other players are under par after day one of play, with Caleb Taylor (USGA/GAP GC), Amani D’Ambrosio (Longue Vue Club), and Aaron Fricke (LuLu CC) all tied at 69 (-1).
Jon Rusk (LuLu CC) and Jake Haberstumpf (Steel Club) both shot even par with scores of 70 and are tied for 10th place heading into the second round.
Other notables include a pair tied for 12th with a score of 71: Billy Pabst (Elmhurst CC), the runner-up at last year’s Amateur, as well as 2023 PAGA W.C. Fownes, Jr. Amateur Player of the Year Calen Sanderson of Jericho National GC.
Defending champion Gregor Meyer is tied for 63rd place with a seven-over-par 77.
The Pennsylvania Golf Association would like to thank the staff and membership of Huntingdon Valley Country Club for the hospitality shown during today’s round. Thanks as well to DICK’S Sporting Goods for sponsorship of the event.