Heavy rain suspends play at WPGA Open

Heavy rain Tuesday forced the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association to suspend play during the second round of its 122nd Open Championship at Sewickley Heights Golf Club.

It also halted two hot golfers — Connor Schmidt and Nathan Piatt — who were on a record pace.

Play was stopped at 11:38 a.m. then resumed at 1:11 p.m. before being stopped for good at 1:30.

The second round will resume at 7:30 a.m. After the completion of the round, the field will be cut to the low 30 players and ties.

Schmidt, Beau Titsworth and Easton Renwick were tied for first at 6-under-par. Piatt and first-round leader Scott Jordan were a shot back, and Amani Dambrosio, Ron McClellan and Hunter Swidzinski were two shots off the lead.

Piatt, 23 and an Upper St. Clair native, shot a 1-over 72. He started his second round on the first nine and proceeded to birdie six of eight holes. He was in the left rough on the ninth hole when play was stopped.

He had birdies on Nos. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7.

Piatt was not disappointed play was stopped.

“You just have to keep it rolling on Wednesday,” Piatt said. “Everything was working well, and my putter was hot. I just made all my putts. I hit it close for most parts.”

His longest birdie putt was from 15 feet.

Piatt played at the Sunnehanna Amateur last week and is the returning West Penn Amateur champion. He was the WPGA Player of the Year in 2024.

“My game plan for Wednesday will not change,” Piatt said, “It’s going to be soft. I will just keep firing at the pins.

“I thought I played good at Sunnehanna. I just caught a couple bad breaks.”

Schmidt birdied four of nine holes and was on No. 1 when play was stopped. He began his round on the back nine. His birdies were on Nos. 10, 12, 15 and 16.

“The weather is so unpredictable this time of year in Pennsylvania,” Schmidt said. “So you just have to get back out there Wednesday and finish up a good round.

“I hit it to 15 feet on the first four holes and was able to get them to drop. I felt comfortable on the greens. I’ll approach Wednesday like I did today and, hopefully, keep it going.”