Peters Township grad waits out storms, birdies 18th to secure West Penn Open win

Connor Schmidt’s three-shot victory in the 122nd West Penn Open on Wednesday was a lot closer than the final score indicated.

Schmidt was clinging to a one-shot lead over first-round leader Scott Jordan and Chuck Tragesser and had one hole remaining when a thunderstorm stopped play for an hour.

The 2016 Peters Township grad figured, with the holes each of the contenders had left to play, that a birdie would secure at least a playoff and more likely the win. Schmidt sank a 15-foot birdie putt on No. 18 at Sewickley Heights Country Club, his first birdie on the back nine.

Jordan double bogeyed No. 17, and Rob McClellan and Tragesser parred the final two holes to finish 7-under along with Beau Titsworth.

Jordan slipped to fifth place at 6-under while Louis Olsakovsky, Easton Renwick and Hunter Swidzinski tied for sixth at 5-under.

It was Schmidt’s first West Penn Open title after falling in a five-hole playoff in 2018 at Oakmont. Schmidt won the 2019 and 2020 West Penn Amateur titles. The 2019 Amateur was held at Oakmont.

Because play was suspended Tuesday, the field had to return for a 7:30 a.m. tee time to finish the second round.

“It was a long day,” Schmidt said. “I started well to begin the second round on Tuesday, but I could not get it going Wednesday morning. I did play well to begin the third round.”

How about five consecutive threes? He made a 12-foot putt on No. 1, chipped in for eagle on No. 2 and had a putt for eagle on No. 3. He also had a birdie on No. 5.

He then lost his touch with the driver and struggled until No. 13 when he made an adjustment. He did bogey No. 9.

“My swing just was right until No. 13,” said Schmidt, who lives in Sarasota, Fla.

He made a clutch par on No. 15 and got to No. 18 with a plan.

“I needed to make birdie,” Schmidt said. “I hit it to within 15 feet. I was nervous over the putt, but I read it right and I put it in dead center.”

Jordan actually held a one-shot lead going to No. 15, but he double bogeyed to fall a shot back. He was on No. 17 tee when the horn sounded to stop play.

He knew he needed to make a birdie to put pressure on Schmidt, but he double bogeyed again.

McClellan was also in the hunt but was in the rough on No. 17 when the action was stopped. He was able to get up and down to save par.

“I did not look at the leaderboard or I might have been more aggressive,” McClellan said. “I missed birdie putts on Nos. 15 and 16.”

Schmidt, 27, celebrated his win with dinner at Chipotle.

“They bought. I owe them,” he said.

He will head to Canada next week for Q-School for PGA Tour Americas. He hopes to be playing in Canada this summer.