Wild shot highlights Day of 120th West Penn Open

Zander Gibson probably won’t win the 120th West Penn Open, which concludes Wednesday.

But the amateur from Concord, Ohio, had the shot of the tournament — and maybe his life — that helped him make the cut for the final round.

Gibson was sitting at 8-over-par heading to the final hole of his second round, and he, quite frankly, needed a miracle to make the cut.

So he pulled out his driver on the final hole, the 307-yard, par-4 ninth at Edgewood Country Club, and took a mighty swing.

“I needed an eagle,” Gibson said after the round. “But the way it happened was bizarre.”

It was a “Happy Gilmore” moment. The only thing missing was a wrecked car and a fallen TV tower.

His drive landed pin high but to the left of the green. It bounced on the cart path and took three hops up the path and onto the patio of the clubhouse. It ricocheted off the door to the grill and took two more bounces on the patio.

The ball then bounced off the patio and back down the path and landed near the putting green, pin high.

Gibson then chipped in for eagle.

“That was crazy,” Gibson said. “I saw the players on the patio give me a safe sign. I just tried to get it close, and it went in. I probably would have used a 4-iron, but I needed something to happen and it did.”

While Gibson barely made the cut for the final round, Beau Titsworth, Mike Van Sickle and Jimmy Meyers put themselves in position to win the three-day event.

Titsworth used an eagle on the par-5 eighth hole to shoot a 4-under 66 and lead by two shots at 7-under 133. He was one of the co-leaders after Day 1 along with Meyers and James Lasher.

“I left some shots out there,” Titsworth said. “Overall I didn’t play too badly. I had one bogey. I don’t think I’ll change my approach (in the final round). I’ll just go out and play.”

Van Sickle, who shot 6-under 64, is two back at 5-under 135. Meyers shot a 1-under 69 and is third at 136.

“I like my position,” said Van Sickle, who had a run of five birdies in seven holes. “I played well. I had a double bogey on No. 14. Other than that, I played well.”

Meyers, whose twin sister, Jessica, was his caddie, built a three-shot lead and was at 6-under after birdies on Nos. 1, 3 and 8. He lost a shot on No. 10 and then had a double-bogey 5 on No. 14 but rebounded with a birdie on No. 15.

“I left a few shots out there,” Meyers said. “It was good that I bounced back with a birdie on No. 15. I missed the green on No. 14, and it rolled down the slope.

“I’m in good shape. It should be a good battle. I told Jessica she did such as good job that she had to come back Wednesday. She is.”

Lasher, however, had his problems. He shot 81 and missed the cut.

Three players — Chris Tanabe, Gregor Meyer and J.F. Aber — are tied for fourth at 1-under. Tied for seventh at even-par are Kevin Shields and Jason Li.

Murrysville amateur Nolan Shillings had a great round, shooting 4-under 66.

The final round is Wednesday with 36 players making the final 18.