When the pressure’s on, it’s all about how you close. Lancaster Country Club’s Brian Groff held off defending champion Jeff Frazier (Carlisle Country Club) to win the Pennsylvania Golf Association’s (PAGA) 66th Senior Amateur Championship at Williamsport Country Club.

Groff held a two-stroke lead after the first round and catapulted to nine-under early in the final round after birdies on holes No. 2, 5, and an eagle on 6. But three bogeys later (on 9, 10, and 13) dropped him closer to Frazier, who was in the midst of an exceptional back nine where he birdied five of the last seven holes.

With the pressure on, Groff didn’t flinch. He birdied 14, 16, and 18 to seal his three-stroke victory, a round of 68, and a two-day total of nine-under 133.

“This is surreal for me,” said Groff. “I didn’t go into this thinking I would win it, but then yesterday happened and it turns into, “Why not?” It’s humbling. I just wanted to put up a good score and wanted to play well. If someone came from behind to beat me, I’d be fine with that. I just didn’t want to give it to them. You want to have them chase you.”

Groff had only played nine holes previously at Williamsport Country Club (on Sunday), but quickly found success this week.

“I tried to go after every pin,” said Groff. “I putted just well enough to win. I three-putted plenty of times so I had to be hitting it really well. I just kept making pars and when I had a chance to make a birdie, make a birdie. I settled in, hit fairways and greens, and next thing you know, it was a 68.”

Behind the top two were a pair tied for third place with totals of two-under-par 140: Oscar Mestre (Overbrook Golf Club) and Rob Stoops (Butler Country Club.) Another duo tied for fifth place (shooting one-under 141 for the week) was Williamsport Country Club’s own John Zurich and Bon Air CC’s Don Dimoff Jr.

Rounding out the top 10 players was a group of four that shot even-par 142 and included Bob Crnjarich (Allegheny CC), Neil Gordon (Doylestown CC), Todd Vonderheid (Saucon Valley CC), and Rick Stimmel (Connoquenessing CC).

The super-senior title was decided by a late charge from Ben Cook, who trailed the leaders for most of the tournament before tying then-leader Brian Rothaus (Five Ponds) at four-under after sinking a birdie putt on 16.

A bogey on 17 from Rothaus and a birdie from Cook on 18 sealed Cook’s first-ever individual PAGA title, having previously won the 2024 super-senior four-ball championship with partner J.R. Cattoni, who was the first to greet him today coming off the 18th green.

“J.R. has been a loyal supporter but this is probably my first individual tournament in five years,” said Cook. “So it’s been a while since I’ve been on my own. It feels great to win.”

Cook birdied six times on the day, including three of the last four holes, with the birdie on the par-five 16th to tie for the lead one of the most important of the round. His prior experience with the course certainly helped his efforts on that hole.

“On 16, for my third shot, I have to give some credit to my being a member here for six years,” said Cook. “I knew where to hit my approach shot, so it kicked right towards the pin. My gameplan today was pretty much to try to stay in it and put some pressure on everybody else.”

Rothaus, the 2023 super-senior amateur champion who also finished as runner-up in this event in 2021, 2022, and 2024, collected five birdies in the final round and finished the day with a two-under 69.

“In retrospect I don’t think I could have done much better,” said Rothaus. “I did three-putt 17, which hurt a little bit. I’ve struggled with my game all year and had some injuries so it was good to come out here and play well and be competitive. I have no regrets. I shot my age today and it’s only the second time I’ve ever done that. It was fun.”

Tied for third place behind the top two at two-over were Glenn Smeraglio (LuLu CC) and Rich DuCarme (Valley Brook CC), while three were tied for fifth place at three-over: defending champion James Gavaghan (Commonwealth National GC), Joe Lefavor (Sunnehanna CC), and Joseph Weiscarger (Wyoming Valley CC).

66TH PENNSYLVANIA SENIOR AMATEUR GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

(at Williamsport Country Club)

Brian Groff, Lancaster CC 65-68–133 (-9)

Jeff Frazier, Carlisle CC 68-68–136 (-6)

Rob Stoops, Butler CC 69-71–140 (-2)

Oscar Mestre, Overbrook 68-72–140 (-2)

John Zurich, Wmspt. CC 71-70–141 (-1)

Don Dimoff Jr., Bon Air CC 69-72–141 (-1)

Bob Crnjarich, Allegheny 73-79–142 (E)

Neil Gordon, Doylestown 73-69–142 (E)

Todd Vonderheid, Saucon 72-70–142 (E)

Rick Stimmel, Connoq. 67-75–142 (E)

John Bearrie, Sunnehanna 72-71–143 (+1)

Chris Fieger, Heidelberg 72-71–143 (+1)

Arnie Cutrell, Greensburg 70-73–143 (+1)

Mike Fagan, Whitemarsh 71-73–144 (+2)

Ronan Culligan, Saucon 74-71–145 (+3)

John Olszewski, Wyo. V. 72-73–145 (+3)

66th Pennsylvania Super Senior Amateur Golf Championship

(at Williamsport Country Club)

Ben Cook, Bucknell 71-66–137 (-5)

Brian Rothaus, Five Ponds 70-69–139 (-3)

Glenn Smeraglio, LuLu CC 73-71–144 (+2)

Rich DuCarme, Valley Brook 71-73–144 (+2)

Tom Hyland, Moselem Spr. 75-70–145 (+3)

J. Gavaghan, Comm. Nat. 74-71–145 (+3)

Joe Lefavor, Sunnehanna 72-73–145 (+3)

Joseph Weiscarger, Wyo. V. 77-69–145 (+4)

Marlin Detweiler, Lancaster 77-69–146 (+4)

Don Donatoni, Hershey’s 74-72–146 (+4)

Gary Daniels, Applebrook 70-76–146 (+4)

Bob Gill, Fox Hill 75-72-147 (+5)

Joe Corsi, Ligonier 78-69–147 (+5)

Scott Christie, West Shore 77-71–148 (+6)

Jeff Hovanec, Hannastown 72-76–148 (+6)