Former Temple star Mason wins Pennsylvania Open

With a couple of tournaments on the horizon that mean a lot to his future, Andrew Mason came to the Pennsylvania Open to gain confidence and picked up some of that, plus a nice first-place check Wednesday at Commonwealth National Golf Club.

On a windy, 36-hole day, necessitated by Tuesday's rainout, Mason, who turned pro last April, shot a pair of 1-over-par 72s and won by a stroke. A two-time Pennsylvania Amateur champion, Mason is one of four players to capture both the state Amateur and state Open since 1950.

"It's really special," said the 24-year-old Mason, a former Temple star from Huntingdon Valley, who won the $8,000 first prize. "Pennsylvania is a great state, and there are a lot of really good players. The competition is really good. So I'm very happy."

Mason's 54-hole score of 1-under 212 at the 7,117-yard Horsham layout edged Washington (Pa.) professional John Popeck, who fired the day's best 36-hole score - a morning 71 and an afternoon 72.

First-round leader T.J. Howe of Osceola fell behind by 2 strokes after a second-round 75 and finished with a 72 and third place at 214. Radnor Valley head pro George Forster shot a 1-under 70 to lead a four-way tie for fourth at 216.

Mason, who started his final round on the back nine, held a 4-stroke lead at the turn and increased the margin to five with a birdie at the par-5 third - his 12th hole. But a double bogey at No. 4, followed by bogeys at the fifth and eighth holes, made it a 1-stroke advantage with the difficult 495-yard, par-4 ninth yet to play.

After a drive in the fairway, Mason hit a 3-iron into the wind that missed the green short and left. But he chipped to two feet and drained the putt for the par and the victory.

"I thought I hit the ball close," he said. "I had five over-par holes all day, but one was a triple [bogey] and one a double. I hit a lot of greens, and I was in birdie range a lot, so no complaints."

Mason, who has been playing the Hooters and eGolf mini-tours this summer without much success, is preparing for Web.com Tour prequalifying starting on Aug. 28 in Nebraska City, Neb. He also has his sights on European PGA Tour qualifying in mid-September.

His performance this week certainly helps his state of mind.

"It's right there," he said. "I've just got to keep doing what I do. This [win] probably reaffirms what I've been saying to myself: 'Just let it happen. Don't try to force anything.' "

The Results

Andrew Mason, Huntingdon V. . . 68-72-72-212

John Popeck, Washington. . . 70-71-72-213

T.J. Howe, Osceola. . . 67-75-72-214

George Forster, Blue Bell. . . 69-77-70-216

Daniel Obremski, Irwin. . . 71-73-72-216

a-Greg Podufal, Erie. . . 72-72-72-216

Gordon Vietmeier, Pittsburgh. . . 70-71-75-216

Mark Sheftic, Blue Bell. . . 73-75-69-217

Travis Deibert, Jamison. . . 70-72-75-217

Daniel Charen, Langhorne. . . 72-75-71-218

a-Kyle Martin, Ambler. . . 70-72-76-218

Robert McClellan, Butler. . . 69-71-78-218

Bob Friend, Pittsburgh. . . 69-76-74-219

Billy Stewart, Devon. . . 69-75-75-219

a-Adam Hofmann, Pittsburgh. . . 72-77-71-220

a-T. Brewington, Orangeville. . . 73-72-75-220

Robert Rohanna, Waynesburg. . . 71-77-73-221

Terry Hertzog, Lititz. . . 69-77-75-221

Greg Pieczynski, Kingston. . . 71-75-75-221

Jim Markovitz, McDonald. . . 73-73-75-221

Chad Bricker, Waynesboro. . . 68-77-76-221

Rich Steinmetz, Gilbertsville. . . 70-72-80-222

a - amateur