No satisfaction
Peters Township’s Hunter Bruce shot 73 during Thursday’s WPIAL Class AAA boys’ team golf championships.
McGuffey’s Hunter Donahue attempts a putt on No. 18 during the WPIAL Class AA team championship at Cedarbrook Golf Club Thursday.
BELLE VERNON – At Peters Township High School, second place is never satisfactory, particularly in boys golf. So when the Indians walk away with the WPIAL Class AAA runner-up trophy, they are extremely disheartened.
“Very disappointed,” said head coach David Kuhn.
In 14 of the last 15 years, the Indians have made a trip to Cedarbrook Golf Club to compete for the championship and they have won five times since 2004, including a record victory in 2015. However, Peters Township finished second to Central Catholic Thursday, five strokes off the winning pace, 386-391.
“Anybody else in the WPIAL would take that (14 of 15) right now if you asked them. So we are proud of that,” Kuhn said of the run, “but the problem for us is the expectation is of winning. If you don’t win it, then you are disappointed.
“But to do what we have done for as long as we have done it at the level we have done it, how can you be disappointed?” he questioned. “You are disappointed but you can’t be mad or angry. Every year that we are here, we have a chance. Not too many people can say that.”
After a front nine of three even pars and two other scores below 40, the Indians were in position to capture their sixth title in program history. But they did not finish well, posting only two scores under 39 on the back nine.
“We just did not execute,” Kuhn said. “It’s hard to explain. Whether it’s bad decision or not execution,” he continued. “But it was more than just missing a few putts. We just didn’t play well on the back nine.”
It was the exact opposite of last year’s performance where the Indians fell a few strokes short of beating the Vikings, who have won three titles since 2012.
As he scanned the scorecards in his phone, Kuhn commented, “Looks like we had a lead after the front nine and totally did not play well on the back and gave it away easily. What are you going to do?” he said.
“Last year, we got way behind on the front nine and we scraped really hard and made up an 11-shot deficit on the back nine and ended up short by two shots. This year was the exact opposite. We played pretty well on the front and didn’t get it done on the back.”
Hunter Bruce did. The Penn State recruit fired a 73 to tie Central Catholic’s Neal Shipley for low-score honors.
Parker Johnson was the only other Indian in the 70s, carding a 75. Matt Petrisin (80), Joe Pisarcik (81) and Michael Bell (82) completed PT’s scoring.
In addition to Shipley, Palmer Cuny (79), Tyler Blake (78), Shane Kelley (79) and Jimmy Meyers (77) all finished in the 70s for the Vikings.
During the regular season, the Indians got it done. They ran the table in Section 7 and compiled a 17-1 overall record. They also advanced Bruce to the PIAA Western Regional set for Monday at Tom’s Run Golf Course in Blairsville.
The overall season, however, is no consolation for the Indians, who view their second-place showing as a loss.
“The kids are hurting,” said Kuhn. “It’s not the way they wanted to end it.”
Hunter Donahue said he wasn’t sure how long McGuffey’s lead over Sewickley Academy would last as the fourth round of scores were calculated during the Class AA boys team championships.
“We are in first right now,” he said as he gazed at the scoreboard inside the clubhouse. “It’s like this every year,” he added.
And, as a bystander commented, “they’re still the Patriots” of high school golf, and the Panthers roared back to win their fifth title in a row. Sewickley Academy took home the first-place trophy with a 406 score. Quaker Valley grabbed runner-up honors (413) and McGuffey took home third place with a 417 total.
Donahue and his teammate, Trent Belleville, carded 80s while David Chapman posted the low score of 75. C.J. King followed with an 88 and Jake Orr and Jo Newton both finished with 94s, of which one was thrown out to reach the Highlanders’ final numbers.
Though disappointed he could not cap his senior season with a gold medal, Donahue acknowledged McGuffey as a golf program has come a long way since he entered high school. As a freshman, the Highlanders won only one match but they have qualified for the WPIAL championships for the past three years.
“Definitely, back then we didn’t think we’d make it this far,” Donahue said, “but we have established new standards here. It’s something that we can be proud of.”
Donahue was proud of his start. He covered the front nine in 39 strokes but finished with a 41 on the back nine.
“I started off well,” he said, “but then I couldn’t get anything going.”
While he is going to graduate in June of 2018, Donahue is headed for a collegiate career. He will golf at Catawba, located in Salisbury, North Carolina.
In the girls competition, North Allegheny and Greensburg Central Catholic repeated as champions. Both won their third titles in a row.
The Tigers won the Class AAA division with a 315 scored. Caroline Wagley led NA and earned medalist honors with a 2-over-par 73. Fox Chapel garnered the runner-up trophy with a 357 score. Upper St. Clair followed in third place with a 366 score. Sara Steve led the Lady Panthers with an 84.
GCC won the Class AA title with a 357 score. Central Valley’s Kiaira Porter had the low score of 76 but the Warriors finished third overall, one stroke behind runner-up Sewickley Academy (365).