Brady Pevarnik, Darin Kowalski share West Penn Amateur lead after 2 rounds

Latrobe graduate Brady Pevarnik used a strong first round and shares the lead with South Hills Country Club Darin Kowalski at the 122nd Western Pennsylvania Golf Association Amateur tournament at Butler.

The duo shot an even-par 140 for two rounds, both played Monday. The field was cut to the low 32 for the final round of the 54-hole event.

Pevarnik shot a 4-under 66 during Round 1 and followed with a 4-over 74 in the afternoon. He had five birdies in the first round, but only two birdies in the second round. He ended his round with a double bogey on No. 18.

Kowalski shot a 74 in the first round and a 66 in the second round. He had a double bogey on No. 2 and four consecutive bogeys to complete his first round. He found his groove in the second round, recording four birdies on the front nine to finish at 4-under.

Heavy rains Sunday and Monday morning made the course damp.

Sewickley’s J.F. Aber and Wildwood Golf Club’s Jeff Varga are tied for third at 1-over 141, Nemacolin Country Club’s Brett Young is fifth at 2-over 142, and Hannastown Golf Club’s Nick Turowski, South Hills Country Club’s Jimmy Ellis and Pittsburgh Field Club’s Matthew Mattioli are tied for sixth at 3-over, 143.

Ellis recently qualified for the U.S. Amateur at a qualifier at Westmoreland Country Club.

Tanner Johnson edged out Mattioli and Ellis to win the 2021 Amateur. Johnson is 8-over.