Knapp and Brown Hold on for Senior Four-Ball Win

Scorecards

CANONSBURG, Pa. – While 2020 has shown to be anything but an ordinary year, one thing certainly looks normal, and that’s Sean Knapp winning a Pennsylvania Golf Association championship. For the fourth year in a row and the 19^th time in his illustrious career, Knapp won a statewide event, as he teamed with David Brown to win the 28^th Senior Four-Ball Championship at Southpointe Golf Club, which was presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods. Knapp and Brown shot a two-round four-ball score of 132 (-12) to win by a shot over the team of Richard Berglund and Rod Piatt.

With the win, Knapp becomes the fourth player to be a part of a winning team in both the Amateur Four-Ball and the Senior Four-Ball, joining Ed Chylinski, Joe Cordaro and Bernie Zbrzeznj as individuals who have won both. Knapp’s win in the Amateur Four-Ball came in 2019 when he teamed with Nathan Smith.

“It always gives you a sense of being more relaxed when you’re playing with a partner that you know can play so well,” said Knapp of Brown, a longtime friend.

In round one, the pair shot an 8-under par 64, despite not making a birdie through the first four holes. But No. 5 started a stretch of three birdies in four holes by Brown, of St. Clair Country Club.

“Dave kind of took the ball and ran with it in the middle of round one for us,” said Hannastown Golf Club’s Knapp.

After Knapp birdied the tenth hole to move the pair to 4-under par, the biggest move in round one came on the par-5 11^th. Brown hit a great drive, which was much needed as Knapp’s tee ball went into the hazard. And with a new 4-iron that he’d just put in his bag in recent weeks, he launched it from 220 yards to about 15 feet and sank the eagle putt.

“That thing flew like a cruise missile,” Knapp said of his partner’s second shot on 11.

The pair added two more birdies to finish that round at 8-under and led by a shot over Oakmont Country Club’s Berglund and Piatt, who they were paired with in round two.

Much like the opening round, Knapp and Brown got a jumpstart in the middle of the first nine. This time it was Knapp who made three birdies in a four-hole stretch from No. 5 to No. 8 to get the team to 12-under for the championship. And from there, they parred out and held off Berglund and Piatt to win by a single stroke.

“From No. 9 on, it seemed like every hole we were both about 15 feet out for birdie and would miss it. But that’s the thing about tournaments. No one cares whether you win by one or by 10,” said Knapp.

And for Knapp, not only was it another PAGA win, but it was with a close friend.

“It’s always nice to win, but I was telling some guys last night that to win a state event is extra special,” said Knapp. “And to win it with my buddy, the same guy caddied for me when I won the USGA Senior Am is pretty great.”

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