If amateur Brett Young learned anything Tuesday during the final round of the Tri-State Section PGA Open, it was keep fighting to the end.
The Bethel Park native began the final round Tuesday at Southpointe Golf Club seven shots behind the leader, amateur Rick Stimmel.
Young, 29, overcame a triple-bogey seven on No. 10, held it together to record birdies on Nos. 15 and 17, then used a hot putter in a three-hole sudden-death playoff and captured his first Tri-State Section PGA Open title.
Young’s putter was the difference in defeating Stimmel, his good friend.
While Stimmel stumbled to begin his final round — 4-over-par after three holes in a steady rain — Young began his round with consecutive birdies. He made the turn at 2-under.
“I’ve won a couple Mid-Am tournaments,” Young said. “But winning this ranks right up there with those wins.”
It looked like Stimmel regained control of the tournament with birdies on Nos. 10 and 15, but he double bogeyed No. 18 with Young looking on from the patio in front of the club.
“I just didn’t play well,” Stimmel said. “I just couldn’t get anything going.”
Stimmel made a good up-and-down for par on the first playoff hole (No. 18). They played No. 18 again, and Stimmel had a chance to win it, but he missed a 5-foot putt for par and Young sank a 12-footer for bogey.
“I knew I had to make it because Rick wasn’t going to three-putt,” Young said. “I got my read, and, luckily, I hit it on line and it snuck in there.”
The two then went to No. 9, where Young nailed a 12-footer downhill to win it.
“We both hit great shots in there,” Young said. “Luckily, my putt found its way in, and Rick caught the edge. Rick played unbelievable on Monday. He’s a helluva player, and it’s tough to see how it finished. He didn’t deserve that.
“It was a good playoff, and both played well. I can’t describe how well he played on Monday at this place. Knowing Rick, it could have been better.”
Amateur Jimmy Ellis and Slippery Rock Golf Club pro Rob McClellan finished third at 6-over. McClellan was the low pro and earned a $10,000 first-place check.
Kevin Shields, amateur Tanner Grzegorczyk and Christopher McKnight tied for fifth at 8-over.
