Pair of eagles helps Neal Shipley win 119th West Penn Open

Neal Shipley didn’t allow a slow start derail his game Wednesday during the final round of the 119th annual West Penn Open.

The future Ohio State Buckeye used two eagles and some clutch putts down the stretch to capture the tournament at The Club of Nevillewood.

Shipley, a Central Catholic graduate, shot a 5-under-par 67 during the third round to finish the 54-hole tournament at 8-under 208, two shots better than Peters Township’s Alec Stopperich ( 6-under 210).

Amateur Brett Young of Bethel Park and pro Michael Van Sickle tied for third at 5-under, and first- and second-round leaders Oakmont head professional Devin Gee and Slippery Rock Golf Club Director of Golf Rob McClellan tied for fifth at 4-under.

Stopperich picked up a $5,600 purse for being low professional.

Shipley began his day by pulling his first shot of his round out of bounds to the left of No. 1 fairway and ended up with a double-bogey 6.

“I guess I was a little amped up,” Shipley said. “I just had to forget about it and focus on hitting the second shot.”

Shipley rebounded quickly. He birdied No. 2 and eagled No. 3. He added another birdie on No. 6.

“I wasn’t worried about what the other golfers were doing,” Shipley said. “I knew the way Alec and I were playing, it was coming down to us.”

Stopperich managed a birdie on No. 7 and then began the back nine with birdies on Nos. 11 and 12 to take the lead at 7-under. Shipley also birdied No. 12 to stay close at 6-under.

On No. 15, Shipley eagled and Stopperich birdied to go to 8-under.

Shipley then took the lead on No. 16 even though he missed a short birdie putt. Stopperich shot landed in a greenside bunker, and his first attempt out of the bunker rolled back. He then almost holed his second attempt out of the bunker for par, settling for a bogey.

“I tried to get a little too cute on my first attempt,” Stopperich said. “Then I almost holed out for par, which would have been cool. The shot that put me in the bunker was the bigger disappointment.”

Shipley drained a 10-footer for par on No. 17 after hitting a pitching wedge over the green from 156 yards.

“That was a spectacular up-and-down on No. 17 for Neal,” Stopperich said. “He played really solid down the stretch. We were battling all day.

“When more people started to come out, we knew it was down to the two of us. It was cool to go back and forth. I’m not disappointed. Obviously, I would have rather won. It was a good three days.”

On No. 18, Shipley nailed a 7-footer for par to clinch the win.

It was the biggest win of his career.

“This is a good accomplishment with all the great pro players in the field,” Shipley said. “It’s hard to win here, and the golf course was set up hard.

“That putt on No. 17 was massive. I hitting a pitching wedge, and it kept going and went 165 yards. I must have been amped up. It was usually a spot where you are dead.”

Shipley said he hit a good chip and a solid putt.

“I had a good read on it,” he said. “It would have been nice to get another shot on Alec on No. 16. It was a tough putt, a double breaker.

“Out here, some of the short putts are hard to read. I put a good roll on it. It wasn’t that big of a deal.”

Shipley played three years at James Madison and recently transferred to Ohio State for his final two seasons.