Championship golf has been a part the fabric of Sunnehanna Country Club beginning in 1936 with the Sunnehanna Invitational. The tournament quickly established a strong reputation and attracted a field that included many state amateur champions and players that had success in the United States Amateur. Its most notable champion was an 18-year-old from Latrobe: Arnold Palmer. It also had two future stars on the PGA Tour who would win major championships; Julius Boros and Art Wall.
Like many events during this time, the Invitational included a Calcutta. What was initially a fun component of the week’s activities became a serious problem as the gambling pool expanded to unforeseen levels. In 1950 the Calcutta was ended and in 1951, because of a decline in member and player interest, the Sunnehanna Invitational was terminated.
Two years later, club President, Charles Kunkle, Jr, Howard Picking and several other members explored a way to bring championship golf back to Sunnehanna. They proposed a new tournament which coalesced around a few basic ideas:
The Board of Governors unanimously supported the idea and the championship golf returned in 1954. The Sunnehanna Amateur became the first club sponsored 72-hole stroke play amateur tournament in the United States. The format the committee adopted was unique for amateur golf at the time. Most amateur tournaments were exclusively match play. The success of the rapidly growing professional tour, which was mainly stroke play, led to greater public interest and acceptance of medal play. It particularly appealed to the players because it assured four days of play. The format, coupled with outstanding evening entertainment, quickly made the Sunnehanna Amateur a prominent national event that the nation’s elite players wanted to play in.
In 1956, the tournament would witness a player who would dominate the game and become one of its greatest champions: Jack Nicklaus. Then 16, his invitation came courtesy of Bill Campbell, the legendary amateur and recent Captain of the United States Walker Cup Team. His prodigious length immediately caught everyone’s attention and garnered large crowds all week. He would finish tied for 5th, 10 strokes behind that year’s champion, Gene Dahlbender.
Future years would see many of the best amateurs of their time. Ben Crenshaw was considered the best amateur since Nicklaus. In 1972, already winning the 1972 Sunnehanna Amateur, he later captured the Porter Cup, Trans-Miss, Eastern and Texas Amateurs and shared the NCAA title with Texas teammate Tom Kite. He was also low amateur in 1972 and 1973 Masters.
More great amateurs have gone onto have incredible professional careers but were not able to capture the Sunnehanna Amateur title. Phil Mickelson, the nation’s top ranked amateur in 1989 and 1990 couldn’t break through to win the crown. Tiger Woods participation in 1992 was met with an anticipation not seen since Crenshaw. Earlier that year, Tiger became the youngest player to ever play in a PGA event, the Los Angeles Open. The prior summer, he had captured the United States Junior and Junior World titles. Like Nicklaus, his length and ball striking were exceptional but he was mystified by Sunnehanna’s difficult greens.
The Sunnehanna Amateur has spanned nine decades of golf. Only one other amateur tournament in the United States can claim Arnold Palmer, Julius Boros, Bill Campbell, Jack Nicklaus, Jim Furyk, Phil Mickelson, Chick Evans, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas and Tiger Woods as contestants: the United States Amateur. Arnold Palmer, Ben Crenshaw, Webb Simpson, Rickie Fowler and Collin Morikawa are just a few we proudly call champions. Emulated by countless amateur tournaments, the Sunnehanna Amateur continues to be one of the elite amateur tournaments in the United States and the world.
The foresight of the tournament founders, the commitment of numerous committee members, and the generous support of the members of Sunnehanna Country Club and the community of Johnstown has continued a great golf tradition. A commitment to the simple tenants established when the tournament began has given its members and the community the opportunity to witness the skills of the best golfers from all 50 states and 34 countries for 81 years.
Future years would see many of the best amateurs of their time. Ben Crenshaw was considered the best amateur since Nicklaus. In 1972, already winning the 1972 Sunnehanna Amateur, he later captured the Porter Cup, Trans-Miss, Eastern and Texas Amateurs and shared the NCAA title with Texas teammate Tom Kite. He was also low amateur in 1972 and 1973 Masters.
Perched on top a scenic hilltop, the Sunnehanna golf course is a terrific example of an Albert W. Tillinghast design. Uncover the details behind our course and see for yourself what makes the Sunnehanna Amateur such a great event.
