Mark Sheftic wins Pennsylvania Open by a stroke

FLEETWOOD, Pa. - After spending the second week of August competing in the PGA Championship the last two years, Mark Sheftic figured to take what he learned during those experiences into the Pennsylvania Open and put them to good use.

A teaching pro at Merion Golf Club, Sheftic did a great job of it over the tournament's three days and added a little excitement at the end, when an errant drive on the final hole at Moselem Springs Golf Club resulted in a double bogey that still was good enough for a 1-stroke victory Wednesday in the 95th state championship.

Sheftic, 36, of Blue Bell, who took the lead with a 65 in the second round, closed with a 1-over-par 71 and a 54-hole score of 5-under 205. Kevin Shields, a club professional from Sewickley Heights Golf Club near Pittsburgh, closed on the leader with a 67 and took second at 206.

Stu Ingraham, teaching pro at MGolf Driving Range in Newtown Square, shot a 70 to tie for third at 209 along with Nathan Sutherland of Wyomissing, and Pottsville's Terry Hatch, who was 3 strokes behind Sheftic in second place at the start of the day and closed with a 72.

Sutherland, a recent graduate of Miami of Ohio who had a final-round 71, won low amateur honors.

Sheftic, who earned a $10,000 first prize, called the win "one of my biggest ones."

And while the tournament wasn't being held at Hazeltine National or Whistling Straits - the sites of the last two PGA Championships - it still was a rewarding week.

"It was the greatest experience of my life to tee it up with those guys" at the PGA, he said. "Those guys are special. They're good. I'm not a full-time player. I teach 9, 10, 11 hours a day. If I get to hit a couple of golf balls in between, that's a good thing.

"I learned to practice more efficiently. I learned a lot just being able to play in the PGA. You try to build off everything. If I can get the ball airborne off the first tee at Hazeltine and Whistling Straits, everything's a little easier."

He made it look pretty easy Wednesday. He turned at even-par for the day and led Hatch by 2 going to No. 10, but birdies on 10 and 12 got him to 8-under with a 4-shot lead.

At 18, Sheftic pulled a 3-wood into the trees and needed to play a provisional ball. After failing to find the first ball, he knocked his fourth shot to 40 feet, nestled his first putt to two feet and nervously holed out for double bogey - and the win.

The Results

Mark Sheftic, Blue Bell. . . 69-65-71-205

Kevin Shields, Pittsburgh . . . 70-69-67-206

Stu Ingraham, Newtown Square. . . 71-68-70-209

a-Nathan Sutherland, Wyomissing. . . 68-70-71-209

Terry Hatch, Pottsville . . . 65-72-72-209

Eric Kennedy, Newtown Square . . . 72-71-67-210

Matt Schall, Williamsport . . . 71-70-69-210

Clayton Rotz, Chambersburg . . . 67-72-71-210

Kevin Busteed, Peckville . . . 71-71-69-211

Richie Krebs, Spring Grove. . . 70-71-70-211

a-Adam Hofmann, Pittsburgh. . . 70-68-73-211

Brandon Knaub, Seven Valleys. . . 73-69-70-212

Jarred Texter, Millersville . . . 72-69-71-212

Bob Ford, Oakmont . . . 70-71-71-212

Dennis Munko, Leechburg. . . 71-72-70-213

a-Rodney James, Lenhartsville . . . 66-75-72-213

Rob Shuey, Shippensburg . . . 68-72-73-213

a-Matt Moot, Johnstown . . . 70-74-70-214

Conrad Von Borsig, Swarthmore . . . 73-69-72-214

a-Jordan Shuey, Mechanicsburg. . . 71-70-73-214

David Fields, Macungie . . . 69-69-76-214

Cody Cox of Milford, Pa., fired a 3-over-par 73 to complete a wire-to-wire boys' division victory in the AJGA Philadelphia Open at Huntingdon Valley Country Club. Cox finished 54 holes with a score of 215 and defeated Austin Powell of Jupiter, Fla., by 1 stroke. Zachary Herr of New Hope was the top Philadelphia area finisher, tying for 11th.

Anna Kim of Chandler, Ariz., defeated Christine Lin of Austin, Texas, on the second hole of a sudden death playoff to win the girls' division. Isabella DiLisio of Hatfield captured sixth place, the best finish by a Philadelphia area player.