J-M’s Clayton secures berth into state final
Jim Downey | Herald-Standard
Jefferson-Morgan’s Kyle Clayton plays from the No. 4 fairway at Allegheny Country Club during Thursday’s WPIAL Boys Class AA Individual Golf Championship.
Jim Downey/For the Observer-Reporter
Carmichaels’ Liam Lohr blasts from a trap onto the No. 4 green during Thursday’s WPIAL Boys Class AA Individual Golf Championship at Allegheny Country Club.
SEWICKLEY – Kyle Clayton had a knee-knocker to putt out on the 18th green at Allegheny Country Club Thursday afternoon, and the Jefferson-Morgan senior came through to place 11th at the WPIAL Boys Class AA Golf Championship.
Clayton finished with 13-over 83 and will advance to the PIAA Championships. The top 12 boys finishers advanced.
Clayton’s approach shot on the final hole hit the green, but rolled back to the fairway.
“It was a decent shot. It just rolled off. I was a little afraid of going long,” said Clayton.
Clayton’s chip rolled above the hole and his par putt slid past the hole coming back.
“I just wanted to tap it and get it close,” said Clayton.
Clayton took a seven on No. 2, but followed with six straight pars before bogeying No. 9 to go out in 39.
But, the senior faltered on the back, leading to the “need to make it” putt.
“I had a couple bad drives that left me in a couple bad positions,” said Clayton. “On uphill putts, I was missing short. On downhill putts, I was missing long.
“I struggled. I didn’t have a lot of bogeys, but had a couple triple bogeys and some double bogeys.”
Clayton bogeyed No. 16, and had a notion what he needed to do down the stretch.
“I kinda had an idea what I needed on the last couple holes,” explained Clayton. “I wasn’t sure I just tried to do my best.
“I didn’t know, but I don’t think it would’ve made a difference.”
Clayton was a bit anxious in his final shot of qualifying.
“I was nervous. I wanted to make it,” added Clayton.
Fort Cherry’s Matt Lacek shot 89 and finished in a tie for 19th place. Carmichaels freshman Liam Lohr was playing in his first district championship and tied for 27th place with 21-over 91. Part of that tie for 27th was McGuffey’s Jake Orr, who also shot 91.
“It was bad. I started off the back nine terrible,” said Lohr. “Nos. 10 and 11, and then the first five just went downhill after that.
“I couldn’t get anything around the greens. It was terrible. I couldn’t putt and I chipped worse.”
Lohr was a bit anxious at the start, but settled in as the round progressed.
“At the beginning, I was nervous, but it all went away,” said Lohr.
Still, Lohr advanced the WPIAL finals as a freshman.
“It wasn’t bad. At least I’m here,” added Lohr.
Carmichaels’ Remmey Lohr was unable to solve her issues off the tee, notably, and slipped to seventh in the girls competition with 98. The senior is the alternate for the PIAA Championship.
“Ever get that feeling you can’t do anything right? That was today,” said a disappointed Lohr. “It didn’t start good, but I had a good par.
“On No. 2, I bladed my drive down the fairway. That’s when the shanks started.”
Lohr hit her second shot right, landing on the road that parallels the fairway and is out-of-bounds. By the time she putted out, Lohr finished with a dreaded eight.
“I told myself if you hit the ball straight, you’re in good shape. If you don’t, you’re not,” said Lohr. “The putting was the only thing that kept me sane.
“I talked to myself to keep myself going.”
Lohr came into the girls championship after a much-chronicled junior year that had her make a run through the boys WPIAL and PIAA championships.
“It only added to the pressure (of dealing with a case of the “shanks), but I refused to give up,” closed Lohr.
McGuffey’s Faith Chapman also narrowly missed a spot in the PIAA field as she shot 99 to finish in eighth place. The top six advanced.