Can new blood pump added life into Lebanon County Amateur?
In order to not only survive but thrive well into the future, the Lebanon County Golf Association, and its top event, the Lebanon County Amateur, must find a way to attract new players who not only love the game but also want to see it grow.
If that does indeed happen, this might be the year everyone looks back on as the start of it all.
This Saturday and Sunday at Lebanon Valley Golf Course in Myerstown, the 64th Lebanon County Amateur will be contested. Again, as in much of the recent past, a small field will tee it up in the 36-hole event, with only 26 players slated to take part. However, a few of those 26-former local standout athletes and new golf nuts, Grant Boehler, Josh Bucher, and Cam Shaak are looking at this year's Amateur as a start of something possibly bigger and better for all involved.
Neither of the three expects to contend, but hope to serve as ambassadors for other younger golfers their age that haven't competed in a tournament format yet.
It is something that not only they are excited about but a development that more veteran players like 30-ish 2020 champion Justin Arnt welcomes as well.
"I think that's encouraging from the standpoint of the Golf Association and for the event, too," Arnt said. "Just to see some of those newer players. That's kind of been our approach a little bit, to get some younger high school golfers involved and try to build it back up. The older generation is slowly fading away because they are getting a little older and we're trying to replenish it. There are some names on there that I don't know. I'm excited to meet them."
Neither Boehler, Bucher, nor Shaak are high school players but they are early to mid-20s former standout athletes looking for another outlet for their competitiveness.
Boehler is a former standout football player at Cedar Crest and Albright College, while Cedar Crest grad Bucher and Lebanon High alum Shaak earned their local notoriety mostly through their work on the basketball court.
The trio has no illusions that they can compete for a title this weekend, they're simply looking forward to the challenge of it all.
"I've played in county events in the past," said Boehler. "Specifically, the (Lebanon County) Better Ball with my father (Steve), but this is the first time entering the Am.
"The thing I'm most excited about is testing my individual ability in golf competitively. It's always fun competing amongst friends, but I'm looking forward to see how I respond and play in the strongest field I've ever been a part of. I give myself a zero percent chance at taking the title, but as a competitor it is always fun to test yourself against people better than you and see how you respond mentally and physically."
As usual, the tourney makes up in quality what it lacks in sheer numbers. In addition to Arnt, former champs like 2021 titleholder John DiGiacomo and Bill Massar, Jr. are a part of the field and among the challengers to the title.
"I am beyond excited," Bucher said. "Being involved in competitive sports for most of my life, I found something again that I enjoy.
"I started playing golf seriously in March 2020. I've put a lot of time and practicing to better my game and that undoubtedly comes from my background in sports. Especially the competitive mindset."
For their first Amateur, Boehler, Bucher, and Shaak will receive a solid test from Lebanon Valley. While not a long course, it does present its share of challenges.
"It's short," Arnt said. "There's just a lot of places where you can't miss on the golf course. Depending on where the pin is at, you gotta be below it, you can't be above it. It's gonna be a test. It's gonna benefit a guy who can drive it straight."
His home course, Lebanon Valley holds special memories for Arnt, who captured his first County Amateur title there two years ago. But he also knows that guarantees him nothing this weekend.
"I play in a league there all weekends," Arnt said. "I still have familiarity with the golf course. It helps me but it doesn't guarantee anything."
The lack of guaranteed success is also, at least, temporarily, an impediment to getting more younger players in the field. But that is something this year's newbies hope to eventually help the tournament overcome.
"I think that bringing more guys out and making it a bigger field can only make the event more competitive," Bucher said. "It comes down to stepping out of your comfort zone. I'm not expecting to win but to come out here and compete with guys that love the game as much as I do is exciting."
"Josh, Cam, and I asked around to many friends in all skill levels to enter this year and a lot seemed hesitant. If we can grow the field, more folks in the area would be confident because more flights would be involved. More flights equals a larger opportunity to compete at your skill level.
Saturday's Tee Times
9 a.m. - Tony Deraco, Jon Hurst, Jim Pesta
9:08 a.m. - Kerry Wentling, Perry Umlauf, Brad Stegman
9:16 a.m. - Chad Wike, Matt Anderson, Jared Brandt, Trevor Firestone
9:24 a.m. - Derrik Brennan, Stefan Caparoletti, Blake Reifsnyder, Jordan Nichols
9:32 a.m. -Cam Shaak, Josh Bucher, Grant Boehler, Trenton Brubaker
9:40 a.m. - John DIGIacomo, Andrew Longenecker, Jordan Rhen, Steve O'Neal
9:48 a.m. - Justin Arnt, Jon Day, Bill Massar, Jr., Dave Albright
This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: Can new blood pump added life into Lebanon County Amateur?
