Jun 30, 2017 2 min read

Nettles medals

Tom Nettles of McMurray took medalist honors during the qualifier for the 104th Amateur Golf Championships played at a windy Willowbrook Country Club in Apollo. The Peters Township High School graduate is now qualified for the Pennsylvania championships to be held July 31-Aug. 2 at White Manor Country Club.

Representing the St. Clair Country Club, Nettles posted the early clubhouse lead at 4-under, 68, thanks to a 4-under start through his first five holes. He finished with one eagle and five birdies while parring nine holes. The cut line fell at +3, 75, as 14 players advanced, including two other Peters products: Alec Stopperich and Jake Sollon. Stopperich tied for fourth with Darin Kowalski from the South Hills Country Club, Both fired an even 72. Meanwhile Sollon tied for ninth with a 74. He and Stopperich both golf out of the Valley Brook Country Club.

After transferring from Campbell University to Miami of Ohio, Nettles appears to have regained the form that earned him back-to-back PIAA runner-up titles in 2011 and 2012. A three-time state tournament qualifier, Nettles also was named Western Pennsylvania Golf Association Junior Player of the Year and won the 2012 WPGA Junior Championship.

“It’s great to see Tommy playing well,” said his former high school coach David Kuhn. “Since his transfer, he has really gotten his game back and has really been playing with a lot of confidence. I am very happy for him and look for him to have a big year.”

The 22-year-old senior has a brother, Chuck, who golfed at Ohio and who missed the cut after posting a 78 score.

In a follow-up tournament, Chuck Nettles finished runner-up. He lost a one-hole playoff to Matt Holuta of Indiana to take second in the 117th Western Pennsylvania Championships held at the Sunnehanna Country Club in Johnstown.

Nettles shot a 208 and was tied with Holuta after three rounds of play on the Par 70, 6,875-yard course.