Peters Township golfers place 25th in national invitational
Photo courtesy of Kade Williams
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Peters Township placed 25th in the nation at the 2024 PGA Boys High School Golf Invitational held July 1-3 at the PGA Frisco campus and Home of the PGA of America.
The invite-only tournament field was made up of the top high school golfers across the country competing at the “Modern Home of American Golf.” It was a 3-day, 54-hole stroke play event including team and individual competition.
Competition rounds took place on Fields Ranch East, which is the site of the 2027 PGA Championship, Fields Ranch West and WestRidge Golf courses under less than ideal conditions. Temperatures reached the upper 90s and the heat index soared to 110 degrees. There also were steady winds.
Playing as Team Pennsylvania because of their 2023 PIAA Team Championship, the Indians opened competition with an 11-over par 299 on the WestRidge course in the play five count four scores team event.
Colton Lusk shot even-par 72. Griffin Hansberry, Shane Williams and Nick Haught carded 74, 75 and 78 respectively. Ryan Watterson competed in round one, shooting an 80, but had to withdraw from the event due to illness.
In round two on the Fields Ranch West course, PT shot a 314. Lusk led with a 74 followed by Haught (77), Hansberry (78) and Williams (85).
In the final round on the PGA Frisco Fields Ranch East course, which will host the 2025 KPMG Women’s PGA and the 2027 Men’s PGA Championships, PT posted a 308 score. Hansberry fired an even-par 72, followed by Lusk’s 76, Williams’ 77, and Haught’s 83.
Ben Miller competed as an individual, and was not eligible for team scoring. He shot an 86, 83 and 82.
In addition to the tournament, team members visited the new Home of the PGA America and were exposed to a variety of competitions.
The squad also competed in a putting competition at the 18-hole putting course, “The Ronny,” and played on the PGA Frisco’s lighted par-three course. Ben Miller won the putting competition.
“It was a great honor for our team to represent the state of Pennsylvania at the National Invitational,” Peters Township head coach David Kuhn said. “I’m very proud of how the boys fought through the adversity on new and challenging courses, the oppressive heat and the steady winds.”
Kuhn acknowledged the camaraderie among all those in the program.
“Our team is very close and this event was certainly another way for the boys, their parents, and the coaching staff to tighten that bond and help to prepare us for the upcoming season,” he said.
Peters Township returns all six starters from its record-setting 2023 WPIAL and PIAA championship clubs.
“We hope to defend both titles in 2024,” Kuhn said.
He added that receiving an invitation to the national invitational was “quite an honor” since only the best high school teams and individuals were extended inclusion based on state-championship performance.
“The event brings together a wide variety of golfers from nearly all 50 states. Public or private. Suburban or rural. Small or large,” Kuhn said. “All high school state championship teams, individuals and their families were welcomed.”