Silver medals for local golfers at PIAA Championships
Peters Township High School senior Hunter Bruce birdied two holes and parred 10 others Tuesday to finish tied for second place at the PIAA Class AAA Championships at Heritage Hills Golf Resort in York.
Bruce’s two-day total of 144, 71 in the first round and 73 to conclude the tournament, tied Franklin Regional’s Palmer Jackson but was one shot behind eventual state champion Liam Hart of Holy Ghost Prep.
“For the most part, he struck the ball well,” said Peters Township coach Dave Kuhn. “He drove it well. His iron game was pretty sharp. We left a couple of shots out there on the putting greens. But he was in a position to win it and that’s all you can ask for.”
Seniors Hunter Donahue of McGuffey and Christian Sadler of Bentworth also earned silver medals in Class AA with two-day totals of 150.
“At the beginning of each year, our coach (Jeff Deems) gives us a piece of paper and we write down a goal for ourselves and one for the team,” Donahue said. “I wrote down that I wanted to finish in the top five at states, so I’m definitely happy I accomplished that goal. Overall, I played really well. I’ts a really tough golf course. I’m definitely very pleased with how I played and where i finished.”
Sadler trailed Donahue by one shot coming into the second day until he birdied holes No. 9 and 12 to make up ground, finishing at 3-over 74.
Donahue and Sadler each trailed eventual winner Chase Miller of Tulpehocken, who finished with 147 after nearly letting his lead slip away with a 8-over 79 in the final day.
Carmichaels’ senior Matt Barrish tied for 11th after carding an impressive 4-over 75 in his final round. He had a two-day total of 157.
Aaron Yorio, a senior from Waynesburg who returned to the state championships for a second year, carded a 19-over 161 to finish 16th.
McGuffey senior Trent Belleville finished at 181.
“Hunter (Bruce) is a great kid, an intense kid,” Kuhn said. “He has an unbelievable work ethic. He follows in a long line of great players that we’ve been fortunate to have at Peters Township. He is definitely one of the more decorated we’ve ever had.”