Sequel to the Derrik Brennan Story just as compelling as original

It was a different competition. It was a different course. It was a different approach. It was a different time, a different set of circumstances.

But the result was the same.

Recently, at Royal Oaks Golf Course, Derrik Brennan won the 2026 edition of the Lebanon County Amateur Golf Championship. It was a repeat performance for Brennan, who became just the fourth player in the illustrious 67-year history of the individual championship of local amateur golf to win back-to-back titles.

Blake Reifsnyder accomplished the feat in 2022 and 2023, as did Jim Gardner in 2015 and 2016 and Chad Schulze in 1997 and 1998.

“I told myself, ‘Just go out there and play your game,’” said Brennan. “But I didn’t force anything. I thinking have the experience from last year was probably the biggest thing for me this year.”

“Obviously, Royal Oaks is a different course than Lebanon Valley,” continued Brennan. “Lebanon Valley is kind of a bombers golf course. Royal Oaks is not like that. There are a lot of holes there where you can get yourself in a lot of trouble quickly. You go into Lebanon Valley with a different mindset.”

Near the end of June, Brennan fired a two-day total of 68-71 (137), or three-under par, over Royal Oaks Golf Course’s 6,374-yard, par-71 layout to earn his county amateur title. Brennan was the only golfer in the 31-player field to break par, and his two-day, 36-hole total was four shots lower than runner-up Carson Dibiaso.

In 2025, Brennan, a 2011 graduate of Annville-Cleona and a resident of North Lebanon Township, carded under-par rounds of 68 and 69 to earn the championship at Lebanon Valley Golf Course in Myerstown.

“Everybody was asking me leading up to it, ‘How have you been playing?’” said Brennan. “I hadn’t been practicing a lot, but about two weeks before I got into tournament mode. I had a couple of slip-ups, but it was 36 holes of focus. It was fun.”

“Four days leading up to it, my driver face cracked,” Brennan added. “That was in the back of my mind; that’s where I get my confidence. I was hitting the ball fine, just missing it a little bit. I told myself, ‘Trust your game and put yourself into contention.’ I said a little prayer for four hours of focus for two days, and that’s what I did.”

Brennan put himself into contention and into the lead with his opening-round score of three-under par. For the most part, he kept the dimpled ball in bounds, avoided Royal Oaks’ trouble, and was rock steady around the plush greens.

Brennan played well with the lead and no one in the field managed to mount a serious threat during the second day of competition.

“I know Royal Oaks well,” said Brennan, 33. “I played there on Thursday and Friday before the tournament and it was a different course. It was in gorgeous shape and the greens were true. I think I can count on one hand how many times I hit driver (off the tee) in 36 holes. I just kept the ball in play. I played to the center of the green at a lot of holes. You just couldn’t put yourself in bad spots.

“I made some good putts. I only really made one three-putt. The short game was definitely a savior for me on the weekend.”

Before breaking through last year, Brennan had finished third to Reifsnyder at Lebanon Valley in 2022 and as the runner-up to Reifsnyder at Blue Mountain in Fredericksburg in 2023. Because of his performances, Brennan has established himself as a threat to win any subsequent Lebanon County Amateur Golf Championship.

“Guys like Dan Brown and Jimmy Gardner, I look up to those guys,” said Brennan. “I love those guys, and I love to see them. It’s not like I’m the next generation or anything like that. But maybe I can be that next guy who people look up to. It’s (the Lebanon County Amateur) also about where you’re from.”

Brennan, who played scholastic golf at Annville-Cleona and college golf at Penn State-Mount Alto, competed in his first County Amateur in 2013.

“I busted my butt to get good,” said Brennan. “I just had that passion to get better. I’m proud of myself. My grandpa showed up on Sunday and it was neat to share that with someone.

“Two weeks before the county amateur, I wasn’t even sure I was going to play. I didn’t have it mentally. But you just have to put yourself in it and go. If you ever have doubt about your golf game, just push everything to the side. I think it’s important to enjoy the process of getting ready to compete. Being in competition is what drives me to play golf and play good golf.”