Peters Township boys take third again in WPIAL golf
By Eleanor Bailey/Almanac Sports Editor/ebailey@thealmanac.net
Kyle McClintock tees off on No. 10 to begin Peters Township’s pursuit of a WPIAL team title in boys’ golf. McClintock shot a (fill) as the Indians (placed)
Laim Lohr of Carmichaels drives the ball off the No. 10 tee as Derry's Hunter Jurica watches the shot during WPIAL Class AA team championship action.
Nick Ricco of Carmichaels reacts as his putt falls short of the hole during WPIAL Class AA team championship action.
Nick Ricco of Carmichaels reacts as his putt falls short of the hole during WPIAL Class AA team championship action.
Delaney Kern watches as her putt attempts curves away from the hole on the 18th green during WPIAL Class AAA girls' team championship action.
Evan Davis of Waynesburg hits out of the rough and puts the ball on the green during WPIAL Class AA team championship action.
By Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Nick Haught of Peters Township shoots his way out of a difficult lie during WPIAL Class 3A team championship action.
Ryan Watterson of Peters Township sinks his putt on No. 9 during WPIAL Class AAA championship action.
Colton Lusk from Peters Township watches his putt attempt approach the hole during WPIAL Class AAA team championship action.
Nick Wetzel of Peters Township waits for his putt to fall before allowing a hint of a smile to cross his face during WPIAL Class AAA team championship action.
Rocco Salvitti shot an even par 72 during the WPIAL Class AAA team championships.
BELLE VERNON – At WPIAL championships, trophies go to the top two teams. Third-place finishers walk away with nothing but regret at the present and incentive for the future.
Such was the case for the Peters Township boys golf program.
For the second straight season, the Indians took third during the district championships Thursday at Cedarbrook Golf Course.
Fox Chapel edged Central Catholic, 376-377, to claim the Class 3A title while the Indians placed third with a 390 score. Mt. Lebanon tied Seneca Valley for fourth with 402 totals followed by Mars with a 404.
“You are never happy when you don’t win,” said PT head coach David Kuhn. “The players are not happy to be third and neither are we (the coaches). That is a good thing moving forward because they will be motivated to come back better. These guys love to compete. They are what our program has been built upon for 22 years now.”
Under Kuhn, the Indians have competed in 18 team championships in 19 years, 15 of them in a row. Also for the 15th time, the Indians have never finished lowered than third place.
Austin Malley was on par with the best. A junior, he shot an even-par 72. His score equalled that of Central Catholic’s Rocco Salvitti, a Canonsburg resident, and was one shot behind medalist Eli Yofan of Fox Chapel. A senior, Yofan fired a one-under 71.
“Austin stepped up,” said Kuhn. “He’s a great athlete and tremendous hockey player that is new to golf. He is one of only two returning starters from last year’s club.”
Kyle McClintock was the lone senior in the PT lineup. He birdied the final two holes to shoot 79.
Freshmen Ryan Watterson and Colton Lusk also finished in the 70s with 77 and 78, respectively. Junior Nick Wentzel and freshman Nick Haught carded 84 and 86.
“To take third when you come in with three freshman in your lineup going against senior-dominant, older teams that are really talented and good says a lot,” Kuhn said.
Class 2A
Waynesburg and Carmichaels expect to come back stronger than this year’s fifth- and sixth-place showings. The Raiders shot 430 while the Mikes followed with a 431.
North Catholic claimed the championship, ending Sewickley Academy’s eight-year run. The Trojans scored 405 to finish four strokes ahead of runner-up Quaker Valley. SA tied Derry for third place as each shot 428.
Carmichaels was the third-place finisher in 2020 so head coach David Briggs was “disappointed” in this year’s showing.
“We came to win,” he said. “We thought that we could have done better. But everything is a learning experience.”
The Mikes featured four sophomores and one senior (Nick Ricco) in their lineup.
Liam Lohr led with an 83 followed by 84s from Mason Lapana and Dustin Hastings. Ricco supplied an 89 and Rolin Burghy added a 91.
“We are the youngest team here and it’s disappointing now. We wanted to do as well or better than we did last year,” Briggs said.
“As disappointed as we are, it doesn’t take away from what we did in the regular season and the qualifier. Hopefully, we will build on this, learn from it and do better next year.”
Waynesburg looks to the future despite losing four seniors: Evan Davis (88), Matt Ankrom (83), Hudson Pincavith (84) and Dawson Fowler (90) combined with sophomore Braden Benke (85) and junior Mason Switalski (95) for the Raiders showing in the team finals.
“I am very proud of these boys,” said Waynesburg coach Jamie Moore. “They played hard all year. They come out here and gave a respectable performance. They held their own. We are happy.”
Moore also believes the success the Raiders experienced this fall will carry forward. They were runners-up to the Mikes in section play but a stroke ahead of them in the district and two strokes away from third place.
Girls
After winning their first WPIAL championship in 2020, the Peters Township girls looked forward to duplicating that performance.
Fox Chapel, however, had other plans. With a senior-heavy lineup, the Foxes unseated the Indians, 327-332. North Allegheny (339), Franklin Regional (353) and South Fayette (356) rounded out the top 5.
“It’s a letdown,” admitted PT coach Mike Lacey. “We thought we had a really good chance and that we would could repeat as champions. We wanted to win but finishing second out of how many teams in Western Pennsylvania is an accomplishment. We are still quite happy.”
Senior Allison Poon led the Indians with a 75. She was runner-up to Paige Scott from Butler for medalist honors. Scott shot an even par 72.
Delaney Kern (80) was PT’s only other senior in a lineup that featured freshmen Brooke Vowcheck and Sophia Severns as well as sophomore Amelia Severns.
After capturing their first WPIAL golf championship in 2020, the Peters Township girls looked forward to duplicating that performance in 2021.
Fox Chapel, however, had other plans. With a senior-heavy line-up, the Foxes unseated the Indians, 327-332. North Allegheny (339), Franklin Regional (353) and South Fayette(356) rounded out the Top 5.
“It’s a letdown,” admitted PT coach Mike Lacey. “We thought we had a really good chance and that we would could repeat as champions. We wanted to win but finishing second out of how many teams in western Pennsylvania is an accomplishment. We are still quite happy.”
Lacey tipped his cap to the Foxes. He said they were the better club that day. They won the match outright by shooting the better scores.
“I was impressed with how well they played,” he said.”
Senior Allison Poon led the Indians with a 75. She was runner-up to Paige Scott from Butler for medalist honors. Scott shot an even par 72.
Delaney Kern (80) was PT’s only other senior in a line-up that featured freshmen Brooke Vowcheck and Sophia Severns as well as sophomore Amelia Severns.
“They played four seniors and we had two freshmen and I was worried the event would be too big for them and that they would be a little scared but they played well,” Lacey said.
“Hopefully we’ll be back next year and take it all,” he concluded.
NOTES: Caroline McConnell and Marissa Malosh shot low scores of 76 and 78 for South Fayette.