Bethel Park's Darin Kowalski wins Pittsburgh Open for 2nd time

Darin Kowalski didn’t know who was leading the Tri-State PGA Section Pittsburgh Open on Tuesday until he asked someone before hitting his second shot on No. 17 at The Pittsburgh Field Club in Fox Chapel.

When he learned he held a three-shot lead, Kowalski decided to be conservative.

Kowalski, an amateur from Bethel Park, won the Pittsburgh Open by a comfortable three shots, shooting a 3-under-par 67 during the final round and finishing the two-day tournament at 4-under 136.

It was the second time Kowalski, 38, has won the event. The first was in 2020 at his home course, South Hills Country Club.

“It was special to win on my home course,” Kowalski said. “Winning another one, look, Western Pennsylvania golf means a lot to me, and to do it again and to win it a second time … winning is hard no matter when it is or where it is, and to do it here means a lot.”

Day 1 leader Evan Ruhling, an amateur from Plum, finished second after shooting a 3-over 73 and finishing at even-par 140. Amateurs Kevin O’Brien and Rick Stimmel, both of Pittsburgh, tied for third at 1-over, and Easton Renwick of Sewickley was the low professional at 2-over.

Renwick pocketed the $10,000 purse.

Kowalski’s day began with a bogey on No. 1, a birdie on No. 2 and a bogey on No. 3.

But back-to-back birdies on Nos. 8 and 9 kick-started his round. He added three more birdies (Nos. 11, 13 and 15) to extend his lead over the field.

“The back-to-back birdies got me going,” Kowalski said. “I almost birdied No. 10, which would have been a bonus, and I had one of my best drives of the day, which set me up for an eagle attempt.”

He drove No. 13 with a 3-wood and two-putted for birdie.

“I saw Rick (Stimmel) doing his thing,” Kowalski said. “I’ve played with him enough times, and I knew he could go low and that made me put the foot on the gas. I told myself to take advantage of the birdie holes on the back, and that’s what I did.”

Stimmel actually started well with four birdies (Nos. 3, 4, 5 and 7) on the front nine to go 3-under and added another birdie on No. 11 to get to 4-under. After a bogey on No. 12, he birdied No. 13.

Then things went south. He bogeyed No. 14 and double bogeyed Nos. 16 and 18.

“No. 14 was so tough because of the wind,” Kowalski said. “I saw what Rick did, and I was just glad to get a par. I stuck to my game plan.”

Justin Moose of Greensburg and Will Wears of Ligonier were among four players who tied for sixth at 4-over. Four players, including Jon Pratkanis of Valencia, tied for 10th at 5-over.

Fuhrer wins junior title

Fox Chapel’s David Fuhrer captured the Pennsylvania Golf Association’s Junior Boys Championship on Tuesday in Hershey.

Fuhrer shot a 4-under 67 during the final round to finish the three rounds at 4-under 209.

Nick Turowski of Harrison City placed second, shooting an even-par 213. Turowski was the leader after two rounds.

Carson Kittsley of Oakmont tied for fourth and Colton Lusk of Nemacolin tied for eighth.