Enslen, Revak sit atop leaderboard after 1st round
Both shoot 72 at Pleasant Valley Golf Club in C. Harper Fayette Open
CONNELLSVILLE — Jeremy Enslen had similar quotes the last two years following the first round of the C. Harper Fayette Open.
After shooting an even-par 72 at Duck Hollow Golf Club last year, Enslen told the Ăĺ±±˝űµŘ, “You can’t win it on the first day, but you can shoot yourself out of it.”
Enslen’s quote on Friday after shooting a two-over 72 to finish in a tie for first place at Pleasant Valley Golf Club was, “You can’t win it on the first day, but you can get yourself out of it.”
Enslen, a resident of South Union Township who played golf in high school at Butler, is seeking his fourth straight championship and ninth overall title in the tournament’s 37th year.
Enslen was four strokes back after Day 1 last year. He is also two-over par, which differs from Duck Hollow, but Enslen doesn’t view one course differently than the other.
Enslen was pleased with the amount of pars he had, but he had a tough break on the ninth hole.
“I had a bad lie on No. 9,” Enslen said.” A bunker wasn’t raked and I made double-bogey. If I made some putts, I could have shot 67-68, no problem. It’s about eliminating mistakes and not letting a slow day, which today was, get to you. It was five hours, but it is what it is.”
Day 2 will be held at Duck Hollow before the final round wraps up Sunday at South Union Township Municipal Golf Course (previously the Uniontown Country Club).
Following the second round of action, the top 10, or all golfers within five shots of the lead, will be in the championship flight. The remaining players will be flighted into groups based on the number of entries.
Mike Revak doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone when it comes to his prowess on the golf course, but just in case there were doubts the Washington & Jefferson College and Fayette County Ăĺ±±˝űµŘ Hall of Famer could still get it done, Revak put them to rest in shooting a 72 to tie Enslen going into the second round.
“I hit the ball well,” Revak said. “Obviously, there are bogeys and birdies. Coming in the back nine, I did make some birdies down the stretch. I birdied 15 and 17, and I missed about a ten footer for birdie on 16, so I did have a chance to bring it all the way back. I shot three-over on the front and one-under on the back, but this is a marathon, not a sprint. Fifty-four holes is a long time.”
Revak, who is a past Fayette Open champion, wanted to acknowledge the work done by tournament directors Dan Glover, Justin Goletz and Greg Moore.
“Justin, Danny and Greg do such a great job with this, so they deserve some credit,” Revak said. “The course was in good shape. It is a good test of golf because you have to play three good golf courses in Fayette County, and there are so many good people involved in this.”
Revak, a Laurel Highlands graduate who is also the Mustangs’ golf coach, was also proud to see his son, Ryan, and Kayden Smith, who is a senior at LH, have solid rounds.
Smith decided to take a shot in playing with the big boys, as he opted to participate for the championship instead of taking part in the Junior Open field.
Smith, who also plays basketball for the Mustangs, carded a 73 to finish in a four-way tie for third place. Jake Barnhart, Bro Tajc and Chase Richardson also finished their 18 holes at 73.
“I love playing in the Fayette County Open,” Smith said. “It’s great having all the guys around. Pleasant Valley is in good condition. A few of the first holes are tricky. My motto is always try and do as close to par as you can, then, once you get across the road, you can be more aggressive.
“I think I had two birdies today, but mostly pars. The driver was working well today. You really have to play your game and not worry about what the guys around you are doing.”
Glover teed off in the second foursome at 8:08 in the morning to finish his round and get to work on running the tournament with Goletz and Moore, who also played. Glover is in seventh place, but just two shots off the lead after firing a 74.
Fred David, Caeden Williams, Logan Voytish, Grant Samples and Andy Soberdash are tied for eighth place after finishing at 75.
Voytish was runner-up in last year’s Fayette Open, as he was bested by Enslen in a playoff.
Connellsville’s Brayden Rockwell finished in a tie for 13th after carding a 76. He had the top score in the Junior Open field. Laurel Highlands’ Ryan Revak was second among high school players at 84. Uniontown shot 89 and Albert Gallatin’s Tyler Felio finished with a 93.
The top score among the scholastic golfers at the end of the three-day tournament will receive a $200 scholarship.