Nifty nine
Enslen captures 4th straight Fayette Open championship
Maybe it was playing for most of the day in unfavorable weather conditions that caused two delays, but Jeremy Enslen didn’t head to the clubhouse as someone who had won a fourth straight straight championship and ninth title overall after finishing the third and final round of the C. Harper Fayette Open on Sunday at South Union Township Municipal Golf Course, previously known as Uniontown Country Club.
The South Union Township resident hasn’t played in any tournaments this year, as he is handling the role of “dad,” but if he was rusty, the Butler High School graduate didn’t display it in earning the championship in the 37th edition of the local event.
“For not playing in any tournaments, my overall play was good,” Enslen said. “I missed a couple little stupid putts, but it is what it is. Yesterday and the front nine today were really good. The back nine kind of changes your game a little bit.
“I’ll start playing tournaments in August because my sons are done with travel baseball. Since April, I have played an average of one day a week with the guys at this course.”
Enslen shot a 1-over 72 for a three-day total of 214. He missed a putt on the 18th to deny the opportunity to shoot even par, which appeared to be the culprit for Enslen’s docile state.
“I have been in that situation a bunch of times, and usually, I don’t make it,” said Enslen in regard to not making the shot for even par. “I don’t know what it is. I wish I would have made the putt, but then again, I didn’t have to, so maybe that changes it a little.”
Logan Voytish also fired a 72 on Day 3 to finish runner-up to Enslen for the second year in a row. Enslen won the 2025 championship in a playoff. Voytish shot 217 in the three-day tournament that began on Friday at Pleasant Valley Golf Club in Connellsville. The second day was contested at Duck Hollow Golf Club.
Laurel Highlands golf coach Mike Revak carded a 74 on Sunday for third. The former Mustang who also played golf at Washington & Jefferson College needed 220 strokes to complete his three rounds.
Enslen had built up a six-shot lead on the front nine, but lost three strokes on the back. With the lead at six, Enslen didn’t want to take any unnecessary risks, especially with the inclement weather.
“I bogeyed 10, 11 and 12, which I don’t think would have happened if my lead wasn’t up to six,” Enslen said. “I may have still bogeyed No. 11, but I don’t think 10 and 12. Those are easy enough holes. I just tried not to make double-bogey. I knew if I shot even for the day, it would have been fine.”
Former Fayette Open champion John Lenkey shot 71 to finish tied for fourth place with Matt Karpeal. Both fired 221 over 54 holes of golf.
Chase Richardson (73) and Bro Tajc (76) tallied 224 to tie for sixth.
Laurel Highlands senior Kayden Smith played against the adults, and more than held his own in placing eighth at 227. Smith carded a 77 in the final round.
Former champion Santino Marchitello (78) was ninth at 230. Dan Glover (79) and Ben Sutton (80) tied for 10th at 231.
Grant Samples rounded out the championship flight of 12 with a score of 80 for a three-day total of 232.
Fred David shot the low-round of the third round with a 2-under 69. Bryan Goletz was 1-under at 70.
Justin Goletz, who helps run the tournament along with Glover and Greg Moore said the trio was determined to get the final day in regardless of the weather. He is looking forward to next year, and was happy with the turnout from not only the golfers, but the spectators as well.
“Definitely our plan at the beginning of the day was, no matter what, we are getting it in,” Justin Goletz said. “It was tough because of the shotgun start. We couldn’t just do nine holes. We had to have 18, so everyone could play the same amount of holes, but I felt like it turned out great.
“The South Union Municipal Golf Course did a great job. We had those two weather delays, but they went out and squeegeed the greens, and got us back out and playing.
“We really appreciate everything (head golf professional at South Union Municipal Golf Course) Pete (Forman) did for us in getting the course ready and the set-up that we had today. It was a great turnout and a great weekend.”
Enslen was happy the final round was contested, as he wanted to win the title on the course, and not let it be handed to him due to a technicality.
“We were fortunate to get it in,” Enslen said. “I wanted to play. I don’t know the rules, but usually with most tournaments, if you cancel the third day, they just go by scores. I’d rather play and not have that carry over for the two days.”
The Fayette Open had battled the numbers game in the last decade, but Goletz, Glover and Moore made several adjustments to the way the event is run, which has helped to increase the interest. Goletz is eager for next year and beyond.
“We were pretty thin there for a few years,” Goletz said. “We were down to about 27 or 28 players. To be where we are now is amazing. Danny Glover puts in so much work behind the scenes. He is so organized, and will be thinking about next year’s tournament tomorrow.
“Greg helps out when needed, and I do whatever I can to help out. We all try to run the tournament and play, which doesn’t always work on the scorecard, but I figure, I am already here, I might as well play.”
The 2027 Fayette Open will be contested July 30 and 31, and Aug. 1.