Pevarnik eagles 18 for early Pennsylvania Am lead

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (July 30, 2018) – Brady Pevarnik used a timely hole-out for eagle on the 18th hole to close out an opening 5-under 65 at Sunnehanna Country Club for the first-round lead in the Pennsylvania Amateur. Pevarnik got to 4 under by the 15th hole on Monday before he gave one back with a bogey at No. 16. The eagle came at the 373-yard, par-4 final hole.

Pevarnik is a junior golfer from Latrobe, Pa. He finished T-8 at this event a year ago, and also earned a top 10 in the Western Pennsylvania Amateur.

Defending champion J.D. Hughes is a shot back after a 4-under 68. Hughes had six birdies and two bogeys on his day. Hughes will be a senior at Penn State in the fall. He qualified for the U.S. Amateur two years ago.

Connor Schmidt birdied two of his final three holes to finish with a 3-under 67 that left him in solo third. Joe Parrini, Andy Butler, Cole Berger and Daniel Thompson are all tied for fourth at 68.

Two well-known names in Pennsylvania golf circles lurk within striking distance after the first round. Nathan Smith, a four-time U.S. Mid-Amateur champion who won this event in 2009, is part of a seven-man tie for eighth at 1 under that also includes Sean Knapp, who won the 2017 U.S. Senior Amateur. Knapp also won the Sunnehanna Senior Amateur a year ago on this course.