Steady approach helps Nathan Piatt win WPGA Amateur

Nathan Piatt picked up the silver trophy for winning the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association’s Amateur Championship and carefully looked at the previous winners.

“It’s pretty special,” Piatt said. “It’s a pretty awesome tournament to win. You’ve got so many great names on here: Sean Knapp and Arnold Palmer. Countless names that are just huge in world of golf. It’s pretty special to be part of it.”

Piatt began the final round Tuesday at Chartiers Country Club holding a one-shot lead on Nick Turowski of Harrison City and Ryan Ferry of Meadville. He finished at 8-under-par 202, four shots better than runner-up Rocco Salvitti.

After Turowski opened with a birdie to tie Piatt, an Upper St. Clair grad, the future West Virginia player couldn’t seize the early momentum. Turowski, a recent Penn-Trafford grad, ended shooting a 5-over 75 and finished tied for fifth.

Ferry also struggled. He shot a 3-over 73 and ended up third.

“When I saw them struggling, I was able to stay consistent,” said Piatt, who recently graduated from Radford University. “Other than a three-putt bogey on No. 4, I rebounded with three birdies (Nos. 9, 11 and 13).

.@thewpga Nathan Piatt reflects on winning Amateur title with an 8-under par 202. @TribLIVE@TribLiveHSSN @Schofield_Trib @astockeyWTAE pic.twitter.com/6fed47qAos

— J. Paul Schofield (@Schofield_Trib) June 19, 2024

“I told myself to stay aggressive and play my game. I played super steady and trusted my game. I didn’t worry because I knew I put in the work, and my hard work paid off.”

After the round, his good friend Neal Shipley of Mount Lebanon, who recently was low amateur at the U.S. Open, called to congratulate him.

“Nathan and I have played a ton of times,” Shipley said. “I’m so proud of him.”

Turowski said he put too much pressure on himself and didn’t play his game. He did end his round with a tap-in birdie on No. 18. Hs eagle chip ended up two inches short of the cup.

“I’ll learn from this,” Turowski said. “I’ll be a better player the next time.”

The round of the day was by Central Catholic grad Salvitti. The Canonsburg native and Notre Dame freshman shot a 7-under par 63 to finish second at 4-under.

“I’ve been playing well and I knew this round would come,” Salvitti said. “I made putts (Tuesday). They just didn’t fall the first couple of rounds. I was embarrassed that I didn’t play better.”

Amani Dambrosio was fourth at 1-under and Michael Gielarowski, Willie Hoover and Turowski tied for fifth at even par.

Gregor Meyer and Chuck Tragesser tied for rights at 1-over.