PT’s Lusk, Benson within striking distance at PIAA golf
Steady play over 18 holes has Peters Township’s Colton Lusk and Belle Vernon’s Rogan Maloney within stirking distance of the lead Monday after the first round of the PIAA Golf Championships.
Some blistering play over the first 14 holes helped put Peters Township’s Elle Benson in the same position in the girls championships.
Lusk is tied for seventh place in Class 3A after shooting an opening round of 2-under-par 70 on Penn State University’s Blue Course. He trails co-leaders Aidan Farkas of St. Joseph Prep and Wes Lorich of Plum by four shots entering Tuesday’s final round.
Lusk played steady golf in his round, which included three birdies and an eagle-2 on the 400-yard No. 10 hole.
Lusk’s teammate at Peters Township, Ryan Watterson, is tied for 44th after a round of 5-over 77.
Maloney had a similar round to Lusk while playing on the White Course in the Class 2A event. He shot 1-over 73 and is five shots behind the leader, Nick Werner of Wyoming Seminary, who shot 4-under 68.
Belle Vernon’s Jordan Mocello is tied for 19th place after shooting 3-over 75. Charleroi’s Eliot Lenhart shot 10-over 82 and is tied for 54th. Fort Cherry’s Alan Tarolli is in 71st spot after a round of 89.
Benson, playing on the Blue Course in the Class 3A girls tournament, was in second place after 14 holes but four consecutive bogeys knocked her back to a tie for fifth place after shooting 3-over 75.
Benson shot 37 on the front nine and was two-under on the back side before the final four holes. She trails first-place Rhianna Gooneratne of Plymouth Whitemarsh by eight shots. Gooneratne shot 67.