Rick Stimmel is known around local golf circles as a steely veteran, someone who has played in USGA championships, bounced around mini tours and ground through qualifiers.
His name always seems to surface on the leaderboard.
Stimmel added another victory to his resume Monday by winning the 27th Western Pennsylvania Golf Association Spring Stroke Play Championship.
With a bogey-free, 4-under-par 67, he held off Kyle Grube and Shane Kelley, who matched 3-under 68s at Westmoreland Country Club. Sean Edgar was fourth with a 70.
Congratulations to Rick Stimmel, your 27th WPGA Spring Stroke Play Champion!#wpga pic.twitter.com/uE23PvpAUm
— Western Pennsylvania GA (@wpga) June 29, 2020
A member at Diamond Run Golf Club near Sewickley, Stimmel made three of his four birdies on the back nine to close in 32 and top the 44-player field. His birdie at the 358-yard 14th put him a shot ahead of Grube, who was the clubhouse leader at the time.
Grube, who plays out of Indiana Country Club, birdied the short par-4 18th, one of his five birdies, but came up a stroke short.
Valley Brook’s Kelley was at 3-under through six holes, but, like Grube, was hindered by two bogies down the stretch.
Former Plum standout Andrew Reynolds made an eagle at the par-5 11th but finished tied for 19th at 5-over.
Full results here.
