Cutrell wins his second Westmoreland County Senior title

Arnie Cutrell admitted he has not had a great summer on the golf course.

Work and other obligations have limited his playing time.

But one thing is for sure, the Greensburg native is tough to beat when he has a lead.

Cutrell began the final nine holes of the Westmoreland County Senior Amateur on Sunday with a two-shot lead at Latrobe Elks Golf Course. It quickly evaporated after the first two holes. A double-bogey on No. 10 and a bogey on No. 11 for Cutrell gave Greensburg’s Joe Corsi a one-shot lead.

But Cutrell rebounded with a birdie on No. 12, his second of the tournament on the hole, and he never looked back.

Cutrell, who will turn 55 on Thursday, won his second Senior Amateur title with a 1-over-par 109, three shots ahead ofCorsi, who finished at 4-over 112.

Ed Elliott and Joe Cordaro tied for third with at 6-over 114. Sam Piscione (115) was fifth, followed by 2018 champion Bryan Grejtak, Jim Bryan, Mark Zoller and Bill Grunewald at 116.

“I’m happy to win the county events I enter,” Cutrell said. “I try to participate in all of them.”

Cutrell was the 2017 champion. He finished second to Grejtak last year.

“There is good competition in the county,” Cutrell said. “We have some good players. I want to support all the county events. It’s important.”

Sean Knapp, who played in the USGA Senior Amateur on Sunday, Palmer Jackson, who recently played in the USGA Amateur and reached the quarterfinals, and Mark Goetz played in the USGA Amateur two weeks ago. They are members at Hannastown Golf Club.

Cutrell got hot on the back nine of his first 18 with consecutive birdies on Nos. 12 and 13 and then a third birdie on No. 17.

“That got me going,” Cutrell said. “I was played well, and then had a double-bogey on No. 8. I had chipping issues.

“I hadn’t been playing my best. I haven’t been playing in as many state events. My game isn’t as sharp as it was.”

Cutrell’s lead was gone after the first two holes, but the birdie on No. 12 calmed him down.

“I hit wedge both times to within six feet and made the putts,” Cutrell said. “It was time to regroup.”

Corsi had the lead, but a tough break on No. 14 gave Cutrell the edge.

“I missed the green to the right, and my ball was in a hole,” Corsi, who won the Super-Senior title, said. “The ball skipped over the green, and I didn’t get up and down. Then, I bogeyed No. 15.

“I knew it would be tough to catch Arnie. He played well the rest of the way. I knew Nos. 17 and 18 were birdie holes.”