Latrobe grad Brady Pevarnik back in business with West Penn Amateur victory

Brady Pevarnik was sort of in a slump the past few seasons.

Once an up-and-coming player alongside the likes of Palmer Jackson and Mark Goetz, Pevarnik’s game had slipped a little. A broken right wrist suffered while playing pick-up basketball sidelined him for more than a year and a half.

But Pevarnik sure made a statement this week by winning the 122nd Western Pennsylvania Golf Association’s Amateur Championship on Tuesday at Butler Country Club.

Pevarnik shot a 3-under-par 67 during the final round and finished with a 3-under 207, four shots better than Darin Kowalski and J.F. Aber, who each shot a 1-over 211.

“I played well in a couple tournaments, but I never won,” Pevarnik said. “But I’m back to where I need to be. This was the biggest win of my career.”

Pevarnik is scheduled to play in the Pennsylvania Amateur next week and an event in Indiana before heading to back to Bowling Green for his senior season. Pevarnik also attended Penn State and the College of Charleston before settling on Bowling Green.

The 2019 Latrobe grad had four birdies to build a commanding lead before he bogeyed the final hole. Pevarnik plays out of Hannastown Golf Club.

“It took awhile to bounce back from the injury,” Pevarnik said. “I had my wrist in a cast for eight months, and when I came back, I had no flexibility.

“I just played my own game and had a lot of fun. I felt no pressure, and I didn’t have a number in mind. I did look at my phone to see how I was doing, but I decided to focus on extending my lead. I didn’t take my foot off the gas.”

Jeff Varga finished fourth at 2-over 212, and Jimmy Meyers and Justin Griffith tied for fifth at 3-over 213.

Jimmy Ellis and Brett Young tied for seventh at 4-over, and Aiden Oehrie and Ben Huber tied for ninth at 5-over.