There was no stopping Alex Stopperich.
The Valley Brook Country Club member was the medalist with a 6-under-par 66 and 11 other players joined him as qualifiers for the 119th Western Pennsylvania Golf Association Amateur.
Stopperich eagled the 344-yard par-4 first hole and made six birdies to pace the 72-player field at a local qualifier Thursday at Latrobe Elks Golf Club.
The West Penn Amateur will be July 1-3 at famed Oakmont Country Club.
Andrew Friend of Oakmont was second at 2-under 70, while Daniel Mogret of Nemacolin Country Club and Jeff Varga of The Golf Club of Washington tied for third with 71s.
Other players to advance included Latrobe Elks’ Bo Ruffner (72); Hannastown’s Javon Trout (72); Nemacolin’s Tanner Johnson (72); Cole Hughes of Indiana Country Club (73); Matthew Shipley of Willowbrook Country Club (73); Bob Allshouse of Hannastown (73); Jack Katarincic of Pittsburgh Field Club (73); and Derek Mousseau of Pittsburgh Field Club (74).
Shane Brant of Hannastown did not qualify with a 77 but started his round with a bang. On his first swing of the day, Brant aced the 168-yard, par-3 10th hole.
Alec Stopperich makes 6 birdies and an eagle on his way to a 6-under par 66! He currently sits on top at Latrobe Elks Golf Club. #TurnpikeToOakmont
— Western Pennsylvania GA (@wpga) June 6, 2019
Shane Brant makes an ace on his first swing of the Qualifying Round at Latrobe Elks GC. Congratulations Shane! #TurnpikeToOakmont pic.twitter.com/fjukPMVo7m
— Western Pennsylvania GA (@wpga) June 6, 2019
