Previewing Thursday's Tri-State Amateur golf championship

Tri-State Amateur golf championship

8 a.m. Thursday, Hannastown Golf Club, Greensburg

Format: 36 holes of stroke play. Second round will begin around 1 p.m.

Defending champion: Brent Colella

Divots: Champions will be recongnized in the amateur and senior amateur divisions. … The event was not played from 2009-19 before it was rebooted in 2020. … Colella, of Upper St. Clair, won last year when the event was 18 holes and played at Chartiers Country Club. He made five birdies, four on the back nine, to shoot 2-under 68. … Adam Scuili and Jack Katarincic, who tied for second last year at even par, are not in the field this year. Katarincic recently turned professional. … Rocco Salvitti, who tied for fourth last year (71), will be a junior at Central Catholic. … Former pro Rick Stimmel, who tied Salvitti, is back this year. … Keep an eye on Hannastown members, such as the timeless Sean Knapp, who on Wednesday qualified for the U.S. Amateur. Knapp is playing in the senior division. … Participant Rob Cimarolli’s brother, Mike, won the event in 2005.

Pairings, tee times: Here

Past champions:

1994: Marshall Marraccini

1995: Marshall Marraccini

1996: Jeff Schroeder

1997: Steven Wheatcroft

1998: Andy Latowski

1999: David Brown

2000: Marshall Marraccini

2001: Jeff Hovanec

2002: John Benson

2003: David Brown

2004: John DiMuccio

2005: Mark Cimarolli

2006: Frank Fairman

2007: Mike Van Sickle

2008: C.G. Mercatoris

2020: Brent Colella