Jeff Rivard is not sure of the precise reason, perhaps lack of interest or even the price of gasoline. But he already has had to cancel one West Penn Golf Association championship this year and is on the verge of canceling two more.

Rivard, executive director of the WPGA, canceled the West Penn Women's Amateur last week at Connoquenessing Country Club when only six players signed up for the 18-hole event.

He is ready to chop two more -- the West Penn Public Links Championship at Treasure Lake GC, which has only six applicants; and the WPGA Senior Inter-Club Championship at Diamond Run, where only one team has entered.

"We normally get 20 to 30 players for the public links championship and 10 to 12 teams for the inter-club," Rivard said. "I can't put my finger on any one thing. It could be the [state of the] game or it could be the economy."

There is no apathy, though, for the West Penn Amateur that begins tomorrow at the restored Bedford Springs Resort. The field began with 155 players but has been reduced to 78 through qualifiers for the 54-hole event.

"We'll take a look at these events and determine their future," Rivard said. "I'm not sure if the executive committee will say, 'Let's not do these again' or 'Let's try again next year.' I don't know."

Trivia

Only two active players on the PGA Tour have three words in their name. Who are they? Answer at end.

Oakmont East is out

One of the best parts of playing Oakmont East was that it allowed public-course golfers to peek through the fence and see the famous Church Pews bunkers on the third hole at Oakmont Country Club. Alas, now even that opportunity is gone for good.

Oakmont East, which is owned by the adjoining world-famous club, will reopen briefly this summer, but only as a private nine-hole course for Oakmont's junior members.

The course has not been open as a public facility since it began being prepared as the site for parking, corporate hospitality tents and the merchandise pavilion for the U.S. Open. The same site will be utilized for the 2010 U.S. Women's Open.

"Our decision factored in the damage to the course due to heavy traffic and that same property will be needed again for the 2010 U.S. Women's Open," said Oakmont general manager Tom Wallace. "Using part of the property for our junior members seemed the best alternative."

Can't defend title

Mike Van Sickle did not get to repeat his performance in last year's Tri-State Amateur when he shot a final-round 60 at Tom's Run that included 12 birdies.

Van Sickle, a Pine-Richland High School graduate who will be a senior at Marquette University, was not able to defend his championship at Cranberry Highlands last week because he was invited to play in the Northeast Amateur that begins next week in Rumford, R.I.

Bad water blues

Trent Karlik's second-place finishes in the Tri-State Open and the Tri-State Amateur were a bit of atonement for what happened a couple of weeks earlier in the U.S. Open sectional qualifier in Columbus, Ohio. Karlik, 29, shot 85 in the morning round at Ohio State's Scarlet Course and withdrew before his afternoon round at Brookside Country Club. Karlik, though, said he withdrew because of a stomach ailment.

"After three holes I felt like I had to get off the course," Karlik said. "I drank some bad water out of a fountain the day before and something made me sick. I didn't want to represent the Tri-State section that way. I didn't want to withdraw. I've never withdrawn in my life."

Karlik finished second to Oakmont pro Bob Ford in the Tri-State Open, then tied for second behind winner C.G. Mercatoris Tuesday in the Tri-State Amateur.

Car pools make difference

Despite the soaring price of gasoline, most public golf courses have not reported a decline in play, only in the amount of cars in the parking lot.

That's especially true at courses such as Tam O'Shanter in Hermitage and Oak Tree in West Middlesex, which are more than 60 miles from Pittsburgh. Because of gas prices, more golfers are car-pooling and traveling in one car.

"We had an outing last week and we had the same number of people we always have," said PGA professional John Kerins, whose family owns Tam O'Shanter. "But there were probably 30 fewer cars in the parking lot. People are starting to travel together again."

"We have a lot of members from Pittsburgh and a lot of them are car-pooling," said Oak Tree professional Dennis Dolci. "I'll tell you what we're really seeing -- we're getting a lot of people from Canada. They're not going to Virginia or South Carolina like they used to. They're telling us we can go four hours and still find a lot of good places to play."

Dissa and data

• The deadline for the Tri-State PGA Junior Championship, scheduled for July 2 at Fox Run GC, has been extended till 9 a.m. Tuesday. The winners of the boys' and girls' division will qualify for the 33rd National Junior PGA Championship, Aug. 13-16, at TPC River's Bend in Cincinnati. Call 724-774-2224.

• The Harry Quinn-Ralph Schorr Memorial tournament, benefitting the Greater Pittsburgh Football Officials scholarship fund, is today at Ponderosa GC. Call 412-787-5422.

Trivia answer

Jose Maria Olazabal and Bo Van Pelt.