Palmer Jackson wins Westmoreland County Amateur he coveted for so long

Palmer Jackson finally won a golf tournament Sunday that was on his bucket list.

The Murrysville native and graduate of Franklin Regional and Notre Dame won the Westmoreland Golf Association’s Amateur Championship by holding off the Turowski brothers.

Jackson, who plans to turn pro after the U.S. Amateur next month, shot an even-par 70 during the final round and finished with a 4-under 136. Jackson shot a 4-under 66 on Saturday at Hannastown Golf Club.

“There aren’t too many tournaments that I get to play close to home,” Jackson said as someone in the crowd played the Notre Dame Fight song. “I haven’t had a lot of success around here, and this is a trophy and tournament I really wanted to win and, fortunately, I played well enough to win.

“I can honestly say that I probably know every previous winner on this trophy. I really didn’t play well Sunday, but I finished strong. I was rooting for Nick and Alex to play better to force me to play better.”

Harrison City native and Penn-Trafford grad Alex Turowski finished second at 1-over 141, and his younger brother Nick, who shot a 69 on Saturday, and Murrysville native and Franklin Regional grad Nolan Shilling tied for third at 2-over.

Greensburg native Kevin Fajt, who had won the three previous county amateur titles, finished fifth at 5-over.

Gregor Meyer of Fox Chapel and Jeffrey Mankins tied for sixth, Sean Knapp placed eighth, Andy Roskosh was ninth and David DeNunzio and Arnie Cutrell tied for 10th.

On No. 16, Alex Turowski was in position to trim Jackson’s lead to two shots. Jackson’s drive ended up right of the green in the high weeds.

He chipped short, then his third shot rolled past the cup, leaving him with a 12-foot par putt.

Turowski’s chip left him with a 6-foot birdie putt. He missed the putt and settled for a par, and Jackson ended up getting a bogey.

“That could have been a two-shot swing and left me down to with two holes left,” Alex Turowski said. “But I just missed and then Palmer finished it off with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 17 and 18.

“Palmer played well. I just couldn’t keep pressure on him. I got his lead down to two shots after nine holes, and I felt if I could play my game I could get pressure on him. But I bogeyed No. 10.”

Jackson finished with four birdies, a double bogey and two bogeys.

Jackson will play in three big amateur tournaments over the next three weeks before playing in the U.S. Amateur.

“I have a busy month ahead,” Jackson said. “I’m excited about my future. I look at what Neal (Shipley) is doing, and it shows me I can do the same.”