History

According to a letter discussing the early history of the tournament written by then Chairman, A. Hugh Wagner, the pool amounted from $12,000 to $15,000 in the final year of the Invitational. The restriction of guests and the presence of known members of the gambling fraternity in the community forced a unanimous termination action by the Governors. The Board realized this was neither good for the club, its members, the players, or amateur golf.

In 1953, then club President, Charles Kunkle, Jr., and other club members interested in amateur golf proposed a new tournament format in amateur golf with the following features:

•	72 holes of medal play with the best amateur players
•	An affair which could be attended by all members as a social event
•	A tournament where participant's wives were encouraged to come
•	The hospitality of the members would be remembered longer than the scores of the participants

After a two-year hiatus, the Board granted permission to sponsor the Sunnehanna Amateur.

As in the previous Sunnehanna Invitational, every effort was made to bring the best amateur golfers in the East to the tournament.

The goal of the revitalized tournament would be to attract one or more members of the United States Walker Cup Team. The first player to fit that description would be Don Cherry of Wichita Falls, Texas.

A caberet singer in the casinos of Las Vegas, he was a member of the United States Walker Cup Team, as well as the 1953 Canadian Amateur Champion. Possibly, the best part of his resume was his engagement to Miss America.

After completing a six-week engagement at The Sands in Las Vegas with Peggy Lee, Cherry headed east. Prior to his arrival at Sunnehanna, he stopped in Indianapolis to win the Western Four-Ball Championship with another future Sunnehanna competitor and Walker Cupper, Dale Morey. An agreement was made with Don to sing each night as part of the entertainment of the Amateur and to play in the event. He shot 287 and won the inaugural Sunnehanna Amateur.

The following year, Don returned to defend his championship and, once again, to entertain. By this time, he had "Band of Gold", a record selling over a million copies.

The reputation of the tournament would be enhanced by the inclusion of Richard "Dick" Chapman, one of the few amateur golfers to win both the U.S. Amateur (1940) and the British Amateur (1944). He also had won the 1949 Canadian Amateur.

Cherry lost by one stroke to another American Walker Cup member, Hillman Robbins, Jr., of Memphis, Tennessee. Robbins, whose resume included the 1954 National Intercollegiate Championship, would later that summer become the United States Amateur champion. His success, the improved field, and medal-play format established the Sunnehanna Amateur as a tournament on the way up in amateur golfing circles.

By the third year, the tournament had begun to receive notable national acclaim.

The tournament's invitation process was updated and changed. Using a format to invite players much like The Masters, invitations would essentially be limited to those who won major amateur tournaments or state-sanctioned championships. Three nationally known golf writers were afforded three invitations, the committee given two committee selections.

Two major television networks were also quick to sense the goings-on in Johnstown. The National Broadcasting Company's Monitor staff allotted time on its weekend programs for on-the-spot descriptions, developments, as well as highlights. Updates were relayed to New York and reported Saturday and Sunday include a wrap-up of the tournament. The Columbia Broadcasting Company would also provide national news coverage.

Periodicals such as The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Pittsburgh Press, and The Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph devoted significant pre-tournament coverage of the amateur in Johnstown. Golf World Associate Editor, Jimmy Mann, came from Pinehurst to cover the tournament for his golf weekly. 

Fred Byrod of the Inquirer told his readers of the success Sunnehanna had in establishing a top-flight tournament, separating itself from the Calcutta pool long associated with this type of event.

He wrote with superlatives about the tournament and its value to Johnstown.

Bob Drum, then golf writer for the Pittsburgh Press, and later a regular contributor on golf telecasts for CBS, labeled Sunnehanna's tournament with similar superlatives. He praised the medal play format and its ability to produce a better champion than match play did in most amateur events.

Turning prognosticator, Drum further wrote, "If the Sunnehanna people can continue to promote this affair, it will be the best amateur tournament in the world in the next ten years."

Within three years, the tournament had gone from a regional field to a nationally acclaimed field with players being turned away.

Players traveled from Arizona, such as Dr. Ed Updegraff, the three-time Arizona Amateur Champion and two-time Southwest Amateur Champion.

From the deep south, Eddie Merrins, the Western Amateur Champion from Meridian, Mississippi, and Johnny Pott, and All-American golfer from LSU and Eunice, Louisiana also joined the field.

Regrettably, in 1956, Bill Campbell of Huntington, West Virginia, the US Walker Cup Team Captain, informed the tournament that he could not compete. He wrote the committee, "You people should see some great golf by an outstanding bunch of amateurs. I am sorry it is impossible for me to make it. I should like very much to play."

But, Campbell did recommend in glowing terms to the committee an outstanding young talent by the name of Jack Nicklaus from Columbus, Ohio. The fifteen-year-old's first practice round sent the committee and public into a tizzy as he made six birdies and an eagle on this initial loop around the Sunnehanna links. It should also be noted in three visits to the bunkers, he took six shots and recorded a two-over par 74. By week's end, he would shoot 72-72-72-70 to finish fifth.

His remarkable talents, unusual maturity, and his introduction of plumb-bobbing created a remarkable amount of interest and a strong following throughout the week.

Very few of Sunnehanna's present membership can remember the performance of this youngster who was destined to become the greatest player in the history of the game.

In late 1957, a letter of inquiry was received from the USGA regarding the operation of the Sunnehanna Amateur. With that, opposition on the part of some club members arose toward accepting players accompanied by their wives into their homes. In response, players were, in some cases, housed at a local hotel and expenses were covered by the tournament. This was ruled by the USGA to be a violation of the amateur rules. The $20 entry fee was deemed by the USGA not to be realistic and emphasized that meals, caddie, and lodging not be included in the entry fee. The issue was resolved by the reimbursement of their hotel bill by the participants. And with that, an ongoing dialogue with the USGA began.

While this may seem trivial to some, Tommy Aaron, then a star player at the University of Florida, was reported to have been so embarrassed after having participated in the tournament, that he was inclined not to return.

Rumors circulated which placed not only him, but also other participants in a bad light. The rumors were taken seriously by all involved. After eliminating the calcutta, the goal of having a first-class, clean tournament was imperative for the club and the future of the tournament.

The following year, the entry fee would be raised to $25. In a letter prior to the tournament to the USGA, the expenses for meals, which were still included in the entry fee, were itemized as follows:

Breakfast	$1.50
Buffet Lunch	$1.50
Thursday/Friday Dinner	$3.00
Saturday Dinner	$3.80

Also, each player was given three balls and a plastic coin case with 1958 Sunnehanna Amateur logo on it. It cost 33 cents. Caddie fees were never a part of the entry fee. The issues resolved, the tournament would move forward. Tommy Aaron would return in 1958 and capture the title in 1959.

This would not be the last time the tournament would hear from the nation's ruling body for golf. In 1962, the University of Houston golf team would mark the first time an entire collegiate team would participate at Sunnehanna. At that time, the Cougars had won the National Intercollegiate title five of previous six years.

Homero Blancas, the 2nd-ranked amateur in golf, and Fred Marti would lead a contingent of eight players, all of whom won a variety of championships. One of the great stories from that team would occur that year at the Premier Invitational in Longview, Texas. Fred Marti would shoot a first round 61, Blancas a 60. The next day, after completing his round, Fred Marti called his father informing him that he shot another round of 61 for a 122 total. His father, obviously proud and excited for his son stated, " I bet Blancas was sick when you threw another 61 at him."

Marti would later tell his father they were separated by seven strokes. He told his father Blancas had won. His father asked incredulously, "How could he win if you shot 61? Were you disqualified or something?" "No, my 61 was good. You see, Dad, he just went out and shot a 55." Blancas would tie for second at Sunnehanna, finishing five strokes behind Dr. Ed Updegraff.

Later that summer, Sunnehanna would again receive another letter of inquiry from the USGA regarding the teams participation. Rumors and innuendoes abounded as to who paid their entry fees, lodging, and travel expenses, and even the invitations themselves. A detailed reply by Charles Kunkle covered their invitations and went on to explain that Homero Blancas drove from Texas in his father's car with two other teammates, then drove to Kentucky to pick up a fourth. The USGA was sufficiently satisfied, and the issue died.

In 1968, Wake Forest would arrive with its starting five, which would include 1966 champion, Jack Lewis, and future champion, Leonard Thompson. To some extent, it would also mark the beginning of the modern Sunnehanna Amateur. Previously, fields had been kept small to promote and develop close relationships between players and members.

The concept of friendly competition, a gentleman's game, was encouraged. In many ways, it was much like today's "cocktal circuit" of middle-amateur tournaments played at several traditional clubs on the East Coast and Florida.

In 1969, William V. Price, after being co-chairman the previous two years, would become tournament chairman. Price would serve as tournament chairman for almost 30 years, maintaining the highest standards to receive an invitation to Sunnehanna.

He, and his wife Carlyn, also served as goodwill ambassadors for the tournament. "You'd be somewhere else playing, and the next thing you know, Mr. Price was there and saying hello", said Ben Crenshaw. "He spread a lot of goodwill for the Sunnehanna Amateur that way, and it was passed along by the players by word of mouth." His efforts and reputation were recognized throughout golf. In July of 1996, Golf Journal would recognize his commitment to amateur golf.

With his ascendancy, the tournament would grow, as the quality of fields would improve under his leadership.

Now, collegiate players would begin to dominate the tournament. Over the next 18 Sunnehanna Amateurs, collegiate players would win 15 times. Only Bob Zender's playoff victory in 1971 and Jay Sigel's championships in 1976 and 1978 would interrupt their domination.

Among the most notable champions during that time would be Ben Crenshaw. He arrived as golf's next golden boy in in 1973. The prior year, he had won the Eastern Amateur, the Porter Cup and Trans-Miss' Championships and had tied fellow University of Texas teammate, Tom Kite for the NCAA championship. He was also runner-up in the 1972 United States Amateur. His nickname of "Gentle Ben" would belie a temper which all would witness as he wrapped a club around a tree on the first hole. He would also show his remarkable scrambling skills making par from the woods on the eighth hole.

After defeating Oklahoma State's All-American Danny Edwards by three strokes at Sunnehanna, he would later win the Northeast, Southern, and Western Amateurs. By summer's end, he would turn professional, winning that year's tour qualifying school by twelve strokes. He then won the Texas Open in his first professional start. His two-year run may rank as one of the greatest in the history of amateur golf.

The 70's would end with the tournament's fourth two-time champion, John Cook. The protégé of Ken Venturi would arrive in Johnstown as a high school senior for the first time in 1976. The summer before this senior year, he would win the Junior World Championship and both the California Junior and Amateur. This remarkable performance would mark him as a player to watch.

After an outstanding freshman year at Ohio State, Cook would capture his first Sunnehanna title in 1977, defeating Wake Forest standout, Gary Hallberg, and perennial contender, Marty West. In 1978, he would fail to defend his championship. It was one of a few championships he wouldn't win that summer. By the end of the summer of 1978, he would win the Northeast Amateur, Ohio Amateur and the United States Amateur and dominate amateur golf.

Cook would return a final time in 1979 announcing his intentions to turn professional after that year's United States Amateur. The week prior to Sunnehanna, he defended his Northeast Amateur title by a modest nine strokes, shooting a tournament record total of 269.

This score would break the previous record of 275, shot by none other than Ben Crenshaw in 1973. His final appearance at Sunnehanna would begin with a front nine of 31 and a first-round score of 65. After three more rounds, he would capture his second title by four strokes over Fred Couples. Only a summer ending defeat in the finals of the United States Amateur would blemish a spectacular amateur career.

The next great amateur star would arrive four years later. While his credentials as a junior may not have matched those of John Cook, Scott Verplank's amateur career was certainly as remarkable. After making second team All-American after his freshman year at Oklahoma State in 1983, Scott would first compete at Sunnehanna. That summer, he captured the Porter Cup. In 1984, he arrived as a player to watch, having now been a first team All-American and capturing the Big Eight Championship. By the end of 36 holes, he would stand at seven under par, two strokes ahead of University of Houston star Steve Elkington. At the end of 72 holes, he would hold off a final day charge of Dave Tolley, whose final round 66 fell one stroke short of catching Verplank. That summer, he would add the Texas Amateur, Western Amateur and the United States Amateur to his resume.

The following year, and now recognized as the nation's finest amateur, Verplank would lap the field by seven strokes and become Sunnehanna's first champion to successfully defend his title. Several weeks later, he would capture the 1985 Western Open, the first amateur in 29 years to capture a PGA tour event. He would finish his summer by helping the United States defeat Great Britain and Ireland in the Walker Cup at Pine Valley. In the spring of 1986, he would also finish runner-up in the Tournament of Champions, almost capturing a second PGA Tour championship.

His collegiate and amateur career would end by capturing the NCAA individual title and helping Oklahoma State win its fifth team title.

The late 80's would mark the rebirth of the mid-amateurs started by a third and final championship by Jay Sigel in 1988. The following year, Allen Doyle would begin a string of winning four Sunnehanna Amateurs over the next six years. In 1992, he would provide the tournament with the single greatest performance in the history of the event, winning by a record 13 strokes. His total of 266, 14 under par, would establish a new tournament record. With the course playing hard and fast, Doyle played the bump-and-run shots that A. W. Tillinghast envisioned when he designed the Sunnehanna links to near perfection. Among those who he would leave in the distance were Justin Leonard, who later that summer would win the U.S. Amateur, and 16-year old Tiger Woods, then U.S. Junior Champion. They would finish 14 and 17 strokes behind, respectively.

In 1956, in his second year as tournament chairman, A. Hugh Wagner, speaking on behalf of the committee, commented: "We hope to see not only hundreds of people we know to be interested in golf, but many other people who like competitive sports of any kind. We are sure they will find this caliber of golf stimulating and worth their time."

Longtime chairman, William V. Price and tournament founder Charles Kunkle, Jr., remain involved with the tournament today. Their vision and commitment to this labor of love has, in fact, fulfilled the committee's original hope for the tournament. It has given all of its members - new and old - and the greater Johnstown community, the opportunity to enjoy and appreciate the great skills of amateur golfers from all 50 states and 11 foreign countries.

Its medal play format, which is now emulated by countless tournaments across America, has made it one of the majors of amateur golf, and it is played every year in the hills of Western PA.

Today, the Sunnehanna Amateur is the highest-ranking amateur golf tournament in America, sponsored by and bearing the name of a country club.

Written by John Yerger, III