In The Arena: Roller Coaster Week for Carnegie Mellon’s Rodgers

It was an interesting week for Carnegie Mellon golf coach Dan Rodgers.

On Tuesday, Rodgers shot a second-round, 6-under 66 to win the Tri-State PGA’s Falling Rock Classic at Nemacolin Woodlands.

Rodgers shot an opening-round 72, but six birdies and an eagle in his second round left him as the lone player under par in the 48-player field.

Treesdale director of golf instruction Joe Boros finished second with an even-par 73-71 and Oakmont pro Devin Gee was 1 over with a 73-72.

The two-day event was played across both of Nemacolin’s courses, with the area’s best playing Shepherd’s Rock on Monday and Mystic Rock, the former home of the PGA Tour’s 84 Lumber Classic, on Tuesday.

But on Wednesday, Rodgers got news that his Carnegie Mellon golf team’s fall 2020 season will not be played, as Tartans athletic director Josh Centor announced the school’s decision to forgo all fall sports for the 2020 season.

“Over the past few months, we have explored every possible avenue for a safe return to play,” Centor said in an e-mail message to Carnegie Mellon student-athletes. “In the message that I wrote to you last month, I noted that the health and safety of our students, staff and community members are at the forefront of every decision we make. With that as our guiding principle, we cannot appropriately return to sport at this time.”

The Tartans had scheduled to appear in five events this fall, including hosting the Tartan Invitational at Laurel Valley Golf Club Oct. 5-6. There is still hope for participation in the spring season for CMU’s teams.

While the future of college sports this fall looks bleak all over, the Tri-State PGA is rolling on, with the Pittsburgh Open scheduled for July 13-14 at South Hills Country Club. PGN editor Matt Gajtka will compete as well.

2020 Pittsburgh Open tee times are here! Who's your choice to claim the 🏆? pic.twitter.com/OqHCtWH0Dw

— Tri-State PGA (@TriStatePGA) July 9, 2020

• The WPGA is also scheduled to get back to play after the postponement of the West Penn Amateur, which had been scheduled for July 6-7. The first qualifying rounds for the West Penn Open are scheduled to be played Wednesday, July 15 at Birdsfoot Golf Club in Sarver, Pa.

Sarver’s location in Butler County will save it from the gathering restrictions that postponed the Amateur, which has not yet been rescheduled.

The second qualifying rounds for the Open will be played on July 21 at Diamond Run Golf Club in Ohio Township, with the championship at Shannopin Country Club in Ben Avon Heights on August 4-5.

• The Isaly’s Junior Golf Tour didn’t compete this week due to COVID-19 restrictions, but it has three events scheduled for next week.

The juniors will visit Willowbrook Country Club in Apollo on Monday, Youghiogheny Country Club in Elizabeth Township on Tuesday and Fox Run Golf Course in Beaver Falls on Thursday.