Allshouse, Shefchek revived Westmoreland County Amateur, which tees off Saturday

When Bob Allshouse hits his drive on No. 1 at Greensburg Country Club, it will mark the 46th consecutive year he has played in the Westmoreland County Golf Association’s Amateur Championship.

Allshouse, 74, and former Lincoln Hills Country Club pro Steve Shefchek, also 74, helped to revive the tournament.

Shefchek and Rich Radomski actually restarted the championship in 1980 at Valley Green Golf Course after a hiatus of more than 20 years. Allshouse came along five years later when Shefchek’s job as Lincoln Hill pro interfered.

He is looking forward to teeing it up.

“I love to compete,” Allshouse said. “Playing it back forces me to use different clubs.”

Shefchek continued helping run the tournament, but Allshouse was the main man. Shefchek started the Junior tournament.

“Rich and I were playing one day, we saw an opportunity and decided we had to restart the tournament,” Shefchek said. “There were a lot of good golfers around who could not play in a Western Pennsylvania Golf Association event because they were not affiliated with any private club. We had more than 90 players that first year.”

The late Bernie DiLoreto won the first two tournaments. Shefchek said when the county scramble started, there were more than 150 players signed up to play at Mt. Odin.

“I can remember Rocco Mediate was still in high school walking up and paying his $20 entry fee,” Shefchek said. “We had a lot of great golfers back then.

“I also remember when it looked like John Aber was going to win at Lincoln Hills and lost to Bill Baloh because he messed up on a par-3. The year before at Lincoln Hills, Joe Klinchock won.”

There have been some great champions to play, including former pro Vince Zachetti, Tommy Smith, current HotelPlanner.com pro Palmer Jackson, Korn Ferry Tour pro Mark Goetz, Kevin Fajt, Sean Knapp, Will Wears, Arnie Cutrell, Ryan Sikora, David and Ronald DeNunzio, Nic Milito and Dave DeNezza.

Shefchek said Pat Brown was the first Junior winner.

This year’s tournament begins at noon Saturday and concludes Sunday.

There are 36 players entered, including Nick Turowski, Fajt, Milito, Sikora, the DeNunzio twins, Jack Oberdorf and Nixen Erdey.

“This tournament has rich history,” Allshouse said. “There are a lot of great golfers in the county. When we got the private clubs involved, things got better.”

Shefchek added: “We knew who the good players were. Everybody played in it.”

Tee times for Saturday

12:20 p.m.: P.J. Germano, Nick Turowski, Mike Polinsky.

12:30: Kevin Fajt, Jack Oberdorf, Zach Singleton.

12:40: Nixen Erdely, Conner Iarussi, Nic Milito.

12:50: Tony Sesti, David DeNunzio, Zach Dzendzel.

1:00: Ron DeNunzio, Luke Sikora, Preston Stoner.

1:10: Ryan Sikora, Michael Robb, Max Mottura.

1:20: Matt Montgomery, Andrew Thomas, Owen Szekely.

1:30: Jack Sacriponte, Logan Robb, Adam Hess.

1:40: Jake Caldwell, Mitchell Murray, Jeremy Reed.

1:50: Jacob Lenart, Ethan Raver, Landon Stoner.

2:00: Bob Allshouse, Robert Slavonia, Danny Remaley.

2:10: Luke Anderchak, Brody McIntosh, Garrett Helmick.