Patrick Sheehan (Pennsylvania Golf Association Photo)

Sheehan, a native of the Philadelphia suburb of Buckingham, separated himself from the field over the final nine holes and posted an even-par 70 to complete the three-day, 54-hole event in 3-under par 217.

The win gave Sheehan, who recently completed his eligibility at Penn State, his second major state title of the season; he claimed the R. Jay Sigel Match Play Championship three weeks ago.

Newly-crowned Philadelphia Open champion Jon Rusk finished alone in second place at 1-over par 211 after a closing 71. Patrick Isztwan, a senior to be at Richmond and a member at Huntingdon Valley, who started play on Wednesday tied for the lead with Sheehan, wound up third at 212 after a 75.

Andrew Mason, a two-time winner of this championship (2011-12) and also a member of the host club, signed for a 71 to share fourth place with John Aber and Amani Dambrosio, who shot 71 and 72, respectively.

Evan Barbin was at 215, while Ricky Calve, Benjamin Feld, Scott Jordan, and Carl Frisk were all at 216.

Sheehan stuck to the basics during his final round on a golf course that was stretched to its maximum of 7,182 yards for the occasion.

“I was playing well,” he said. I was hitting the ball well; it was a matter of making putts, and I did. The greens are hard to read here, but for the most part, I hit it pretty close where maybe I could make some putts, and I made those.

“I just tried to hit fairways and greens, and I think that really helped out this week.”

Sheehan recorded three birdies on Wednesday but it could be argued that what he did best was leave himself second putts that were generally little more than tap-ins.

“That’s stress-free when you have easy two putts,” he said, “and you’re not grinding on four and five-footers all day.”

In the final group off the first tee, Sheehan was paired with Isztwan. He parred the opening hole and took a lead when his playing companion bogeyed.

Isztwan went on to bogey four of his first six holes but eagled the par-5 seventh while Sheehan bogeyed. At that point, Sheehan led by one shot with Rusk, playing just ahead of them, one additional shot behind of birdieing the seventh himself before he bogeyed the eighth and ninth and fell out of contention.

Sheehan maintained his one-shot advantage; he made the turn at two under par for the championship.

He took control for good at the par-4 10th when Isztwan put his tee shot in a penalty area to the right of the fairway and went on to record a double bogey. Sheehan reached the green in regulation before draining a 25-foot birdie putt that in the blink of an eye have him a four-stroke lead.

“I was leaving every putt short,” Sheehan said. “I probably had a good read on it, so I gave it a little more pace than I usually do and it ended up being a perfect pace. It was nice to make that one.”

Sheehan was never threatened the rest of the way. His only stumble was a three-putt bogey at the par-3 17th. Isztwan lost two additional shots to par with bogeys at 12 and 14 while Rusk played his back nine in even par.

Rusk received an exemption into this championship and the Glenside, Pa. resident welcomed the chance to test himself on one if his favorite layouts.

“Huntingdon Valley is one of my top three golf courses,” he said. “Oakmont, Pinehurst, and Huntingdon Valley. When I saw the state amateur was here and they gave me an exemption so I didn’t have to qualify I made the best of it. I’m happy with how I performed.”

Sheehan is now contemplating his golfing future. His win here gives him an exemption into the upcoming U.S. Amateur.

“Coming into this tournament, it was kind of a win-win,” he said. “If I win, ‘Cool, I’ll get to the Amateur. If I don’t win, I get to turn pro.’ It’s kind of easier to play that way where I wasn’t too stressed out or needing to win it.

“My plan was to play pro for the [Pennsylvania Open] but I’m probably not going to do that now,”