The last golfer from Western Pennsylvania to win the Frank B. Fuhrer Jr. Invitational was Mike Van Sickle in 2013.
That doesn’t mean the locals haven’t been in the hunt.
Michael Gligic needed eight extra holes to defeat Washington native Steve Wheatcroft in 2019.
Gligic, Wheatcroft and Michigan native Ryan Lenahan finished the 72-hole event at 1-under par, forcing a three-hole aggregate playoff. After those three holes (Nos. 16-18), Gligic and Wheatcroft began a sudden-death playoff on the par-3 18th.
They played it five times before Gligic won with a par.
Penn-Trafford grad Dan Obremski, 33, has been in the race for the title the past few years but has come up short. Little mistakes have cost him.
Is this the year the drought ends? Obremski isn’t making any predictions, but he said this is the strongest field Fuhrer has assembled.
“I’m just glad to be part of the field,” he said. “I was worried I wouldn’t get the invite.”
Obremski, who played on the PGA Tour Latinoamerica in 2019, is back in Florida teaching golf and trying to restart his playing career.
“The PGA Tour Latinoamerica was expensive, and you didn’t win a lot of money,” Obremski said. “And only two golfers were guaranteed spots on the Korn Ferry Tour.”
This year’s field includes three-time champion David Bradshaw, 2017 champion T.J. Howe, ‘14 champion Eric Cole, ‘18 champion Daniel McCarthy, amateur Palmer Jackson, amateur Austin Lemieux (Mario’s son) and former Chicago Blackhawk Jeremy Roenick.
The field of 40 will play 36 holes Monday and 18 holes each Tuesday and Wednesday at Pittsburgh Field Club. They are playing for a $200,000 purse, with $40,000 going to the winning professional.
“I feel the key to winning this event is patience,” Obremski said. “No lead is safe here. The leaders always seem to come back to the pack.
“This is a tough course, and there are certain holes you must take advantage of. Putting is always key on this course.”
Jackson, a Franklin Regional grad and rising sophomore at Notre Dame, is coming off a groin injury. He said he has taken his time to heal and should be ready.
Jackson didn’t play in the Tri-State Open so he could rest for the Fuhrer Invitational.
“This is one of my favorite tournaments,” Jackson said. “It always has great competition. I’m looking forward to playing in it again.”
