Butler Country Club proved to be a difficult test for the 132 golfers competing in the Pittsburgh Open on Tuesday.
One golfer called a few of the pin placements on the greens “criminal.”
In the end, a sudden-death playoff was needed to decide the winner.
Lucas Cromeenes, head golf professional at The Pete Dye Golf Course in Bridgeport, W.Va., edged amateur Austin Lemieux on the first playoff hole. He won with a par over Lemieux, the 30-year-old son of Penguins legend Mario Lemieux.
The Pittsburgh Open is sponsored by Frank B. Fuhrer Wholesale and Pittsburgh Brewing Company.
Cromeenes, Lemieux, Talon Kreibel and Fox Chapel amateur David Fuhrer II, the grandson of the late Frank B. Fuhrer who started this tournament, were tied for the lead when the day started.
Mt. Lebanon pro Kevin Shields, who began the day a shot back after shooting an even-par 70, zoomed into the lead with consecutive birdies on Nos. 2, 3 and 4.
“I knew I needed to get to 4-under, but I bogeyed No. 5,” Shields said. “I got back to 3-under after a birdie on No. 11, but I did not finish well.”
He concluded his round with three consecutive bogeys.
“I just did not get it done,” Shields said. “I should have been in the playoffs. I like Butler. I was driving the ball well. This is a long golf course, and I did not know how I would compete.”
Meanwhile, Cromeenes and Lemieux played steady golf.
After beginning his round with a bogey on No. 1, Cromeenes had par or better over the next 16 holes. His birdies came on Nos. 8 and 16.
“I struggled with the driver,” Cromeenes said. “I grinded it out, got good lies in the rough and made some putts when I needed it.”
It was the first time he played at Butler.
Lemieux stayed even-keeled, birding No. 2, bogeying No. 5 and closing with 13 consecutive pars.
He tied Cromeenes with a par on No. 18 after as the West Virginia pro got into trouble off the tee when he clipped a tree branch to the right of the fairway and finished with a bogey.
Lemieux said he was disappointed with his chip on No. 18. It went long and left him with a 15-foot birdie putt downhill.
On the next hole, Cromeenes was in a fairway bunker, and Lemieux was further ahead in the fairway.
Cromeenes punched a shot out of the bunker and landed it short, and it rolled onto the green below the cup.
“I was trying to bounce it up there,” Cromeenes said. “It was a little further left than I wanted it. There were not many options. I just wanted to bump it up close to the hole.
“There were some tough pin placements. You must drive it well here.”
Lemieux’s chip hit short of the green and rolled back. He putted from the apron, but the putt was not high enough and rolled to the right fringe.
“My chip came up shorter than I wanted,” Lemieux said. “I did not execute the putt from the apron. I was pleased with the way I played.”
Cromeenes two-putted for the win as Lemieux’s par attempt came up short.
It was Cromeenes’ third consecutive Tri-State Section PGA victory. He previously won the Tri-State Open on June 2 and the Stableford Championship on June 22.
Fuhrer II, Shields and Kreibel tied for third at 1-over, Rick Stimmer was sixth at 2-over, Mike Van Sickle was seventh at 3-over, Kevin Fajt was eighth at 4-over and Matt Blazewich was ninth at 5-over.
Easton Renwick and Nick Turowski tied for 10th, and Nixen Erdely, Devin Gee, Justin Moose and Ryan Meyer tied for 12th.