Peters Township’s Kness wins regional golf title
BLAIRSVILLE – It took a little longer than she might have liked, but Peters Township’s Mia Kness did what she hoped to accomplish when she arrived at Chestnut Ridge Golf Resort & Conference Center in Blairsville Monday.
Kness needed two playoff holes, but she won the second of those and defeated Lauren Freyvogel of Pine-Richland to capture the top spot in the PIAA West Region Golf Championship in the Girls Class AAA division.
It’s the second time in her four-year career she’s been the medalist and it earned her a fourth trip to the PIAA Golf Championships next week in York.
“I left a few putts out there but overall it was a good day,” Kness, a Seton Hall commit, said. “But I also made a few putts. I’ve been playing really well and this really does mean a lot to me.”
Kness and Freyvogel were paired over the first 18 holes and battled all day.
Freyvogel led by a shot going into 18, but Kness won with a five to force the playoff.
“I hit two good drives in the playoff,” Kness said. “The first time I 3-putted, the second I 2-putted and that was good enough for the win. I’m very excited.”
Kness has finished in a tie for third each of the last two years, a streak she’d like very much to end next week.
“My game is at a comfortable place right now,” she said. “Winning here today will definitely give me a boost of confidence for states.”
She’ll be joined at Heritage Hills Golf Resort and Conference Center next week by a member of the Peters Township boys team, junior Hunter Bruce. He posted a 41-36-77 to easily get into the 14-boy contingent that qualified for states.
Canon-McMillan’s Taylor Waller (38-37-75) finished in a tie for second in her second appearance in the West Region finals and will be making her second PIAA trip next week.
“It was a nice day,” Waller said. “I made three birdies and six bogeys and I’m happy to going to states again.”
A pair of McGuffey boys will be making the trip to York. Colin Chapman finished third in the Class AA competition with a round of 75 and Hunter Donahue finished ninth with a 77.
Christian Sadler of Bentworth shot an 81 and that was good for a tie for 18th to qualify.
Waynesburg’s Aaron Yorio posted a 76 to finish fifth and qualify.
Daniel Lis of Burgettstown had a tough time, shooting an 84 and did not qualify.