Carnegie Mellon golf coach Dan Rodgers finished the final round of the Tri-State PGA Falling Rock Classic in style.
He capped off his best career round on a par-72 course by shooting 6-under 66 with a birdie on No. 18 on Tuesday to claim victory at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort’s Mystic Rock. His final round included an eagle on No. 5, six birdies and a double bogey.
Rodgers finished the two-day tournament at 4-under 140, four shots better than Treesdale Golf and Country Club director of instruction Joe Boros, who finished at even-par 144 after shooting 1-under 71 in the final round.
“I played very well,” Rodgers said. “I told myself coming up that I was going to shoot a 66. That’s the number that stuck in my head.”
Rodgers earned a $2,000 purse. Boros ended up with $1,200.
Oakmont Country Club pro Devin Gee was third at 1-over, and first-round leader and Oakmont assistant Chris Zumpano was fourth at 2-over. Allegheny Country Club pro John Aber was fifth at 3-over.
Rodgers, 34, of Murrysville, began his final round as hot as the 90-degree weather. He was 5-under through eight holes before a double-bogey 6 on No. 9 interrupted his round.
“I’ve never played that hole well, and I thought about it all night,” Rodgers said. “I played well before that hole and played well after. I let it get into my head. At least it was the only bad swing of the day.”
Undeterred, Rodgers added three more birdies on the back nine to breeze to the win.
The Butler graduate walked on at Slippery Rock and played four years. An arm injury in baseball forced him to learn the game.
“I really didn’t learn how to play until after college,” Rodgers said. “I learned a lot from Rob (McClellan), Bob (Ford), Devin (Gee) and my mentor Bob (McConnell). I started figuring things out.”
Rodgers liked the format of playing both courses at Nemacolin Woodlands. The first round was on the Shepherd’s Rock course.
“The putting surfaces on both courses were amazing,” he said. “I drove the ball well, especially at Mystic Rock. If I’m driving the ball well, I have confidence in my game.”
