Fownes Player of the Year Standings
Senior Player of the Year Standings
Knapp Wins His 2nd Fownes Award
Sean Knapp accepts the George Dressler Amateur
Public Links Trophy from Chuck Dannenberg
Sean Knapp, of St. Jude Golf Club, has won the 2010 W.C. Fownes, Jr. Player of the Year award by accumulating 675 points in 6 different events. Knapp is not a stranger to the top of the leaderboard in this illustrious catagory. This is the second player of the year award for Knapp. Over the last eight years, he has finished in the top 6 every year but one (2006).
Knapp began the Pennsylvania Golf Association Season with a finals appearance in the R. Jay Sigel Amateur Match Play Championship, at Lookaway Golf Club. He took, eventual champion, David Brown to the 17th hole, losing 2 & 1. He followed that up with a come-from-behind victory in the George Dressler Amateur Public Links Championship, which was his second victory in this event in as many years.
"Of all of the events that I played in this year, the come-back win in the Dressler was one of the most memorable," said Knapp. "I really didn't play that well in the first round, and to come from the pack to kind of steal the win, was tough."
Knapp holds 6 State Championship Titles: 1 Amateur Championship (1997), 1 Art Wall, Jr. Memorial (2008), 2 Middle-Amateur Championships (2004 & 2009), and 2 George Dressler Amateur Public Links Championships (2009 & 2010).
USGA Resume:
Sean was the medalist, by eight shots over his closest competitor, in the USGA Amateur Public Links Qualifying, at Youghiougheny Country Club. He qualified for match play as the 28th seed, and was knocked out in the first match, 1up.
Knapp qualified for the USGA Amateur Championship, in a playoff for the second qualifying position, at Indiana Country Club. He gained an exemption into the USGA Middle-Amateur Championship for his previous play and qualified as the 6th seed for match play. He played extremely well all week and advanced to the semifinals where he had a chance to advance to the finals to compete against, good friend, Nathan Smith.
Knapp was also selected to the Pennsylvania Team , which competed in the USGA State Team Championship. The team finished in a tie for 9th place. In 2009, he was part of the championship winning team. Knapp has competed in an astounding 32 USGA Championships in his lifetime.
Schlachter Wins His Third Sr. POY
Paul Schlachter with all of his Senior Amateur
Championship awards
Paul Schlachter, of The Club at Nevillewood, has successfully won the Senior Player of the Year award 3 years out of 4. He won the inaugural title in 2007 and repeated the feat in 2008. Schlachter accumulated 593.3 points in four events in 2010.
He began the season with a first round victory in the Senior Amateur Match Play Championship, at Lookaway Golf Club, before being knocked out in the second round. He has won the Sr. Match Play twice (2008 & 2009). He followed that up with a third place finish in the Senior Better-Ball Championship, at West Shore Country Club. He has won the Sr. Better-Ball Championship three times (2005, 2007 & 2008).
"The most memorable moment this year was my up-and-down play at the Senior (Amateur Championship). I had a five shot lead going to the 15th hole and made a triple, and then made bogey on the 17th hole from a divot in the fairway. I knew where I stood (compared to the field) in the fairway on the 18th, and hit a pitching wedge from 126 yards and two-putted to win. It's getting a lot tougher in these senior events. There just seems to be more and more great senior players in Pennsylvania."
Schlachter has accumulated, a phenomenal, 10 state championships including: 1 State Amateur, 1 State Middle-Amateur, 3 Senior Better-Balls, 2 Senior Match Plays, and 3 Senior Amateurs.
"It really means a great deal to me to be named the Senior Player of the Year. It is a goal of mine every year, and it seems to be harder each year as well. I really value the PAGA events and they are always regarded as some of the best fields that I play in."
Schlachter plans to play in the Society of Seniors event in a couple of weeks and will play in a handful of senior events in Florida, in January.
From the Executive Committee and staff of the Pennsylvania Golf Association, Congratulations to Sean Knapp and Paul Schlachter on a phenomenal year of golf!