Aug 25, 2015 4 min read

With a victory during the Tri-County Athletic Directors Association Championships, the Peters Township men’s golf team demonstrated they are the team to beat during the 2015 high school golf season. The Indians return all but one starter – Ben Morgret now at St. Francis University – from last year’s WPIAL championship club.

“We are off to a good start,” agreed head coach David Kuhn, “and we do expect to do our best this season, but the main thing that I have been preaching to the team is focus on what’s next.”

This week, that meant practice and participation in the Chairman’s Cup Tournament before the Indians can even think of home matches at Rolling Hills Country Club against Chartiers Valley at 4 p.m. Aug. 31 and 3:30 p.m. Sept. 9 against Upper St. Clair. The visits to CV and USC are set for 3:30 p.m. Sept. 16 at Nevillewood and 2:45 p.m. Sept. 24 at St. Clair Country Club.

“St. Clair is always a big match and I expect CV to have a good team this year,” Kuhn said. “But, we are not getting ahead of ourselves.”

For now, the Indians are living in the moment and enjoying their triumph during the Tri-County match played at the Village Green Golf Course in Hickory. Peters rolled up a 364 score on the par 71 course, to outdistance second-place Canon-McMillan by 45 strokes.

With a 1-2-3 finish, the Indians swept the competition.

J.W. Cunningham earned medalist honors for the Indians. He carded a two-under-par 69. In a playoff for runner-up honors, Connor Schmidt edged his teammate, Hunter Bruce. Both finished 18 holes tied with 72 strokes.

Peters placed four other duffers in the Top 10. Trevor Thomas, Alec Stopperich and Christian Ordonez all shot 75s along with Burgettstown’s Cody Dobbin, but their places, determined by scorecard playoff, were fifth, seventh and eighth. Jake Sollon carded a 76 for ninth place.

Regis Nairn rounded out the Top 10, also with a 76. He was the ace for Canon-McMillan, which posted a second-place overall score of 409, eight strokes ahead of third-place Trinity.

Taylor Waller, whose sister, Lauren, is now golfing at Penn State University, and Robbie Licht each fired 82 for the Big Macs. Jack Clandaniel and Vinnie Lavorgna followed with 83 and 86 scores. (The girls in the tournament played at 85 percent distance of the boys.)

Four additional Peters golfers entered the tournament as individuals and experienced success. In addition to Thomas and Ordonez, Brian Livolsi and Will Lusk posted rounds of 77 and 79. Tanner Johnson also participated for the Indians in the championships while Tony D’Amico golfed for the Big Macs.

In the Class AA division, South Fayette finished fourth with a 441 score while Chartiers-Houston placed ninth with a 504 total. McGuffey won the team title, edging Burgettstown by three strokes, 433-436.

Alec Lacinski, Alex Orlandini, Michael Fargas, Jake Trimbur and Ben Previte led the Lions while Kyle Cummings, Austin Riggle, Jordan Davis, Stephen Sirakos and Brian Price paced the Buccaneers.

Previte earned medalist for the SF junior varisty when the Lions defeated North Hills, 198-229, in their team opener. Previte carded a 37.

Kuhn Memorial

Rivals on the links, golfers from Peters Township and Upper St. Clair joined forces with Fox Chapel, Greensburg Central Catholic and Frazier to challenge the east during the 2015 Milton Kuhn Junior Memorial Matches played at Donegal Highlands. The opponents consisted of players from Central Dauphin, Cumberland Valley and Mount Saint Joseph’s Academy.

The West beat the East, 28.5-15.5, winning the best ball, 8.5-2.5, alternative shots, 9-2, but tying 11-11 as singles.

Undefeated during the competition with 3-0 marks were: Synclaire Kuhn, J.W. Cunningham and Hunter Bruce from Peters Township as well as Bella Petrone from Upper St. Clair. Jake Sollon and Alyzza Parham, both from Peters Township, sported 2-0-1 records. Tanner Johnson, Mia Kness and Connor Schmidt each finished 2-1 overall.

Alex Stopperich, Jake Sollon and Hunter Bruce also represented the PT men while Brooke Hilden, Cate Deegan and Alyssa Parham competed for the Lady Indians in the event.

Other golfers playing for the West squad included: Alex Lawson, Anthony Cordaro, Olivia and Abby Zambruno, Matt Friday, Gregor Meyer, Annika Erdely, Grant Thiele, Lauren Freyvogel and Mike Marsico.

Wally Grant

Christian Vietmeier and J.T. Nicholas earned medalist honors during the Wally Grant Junior Golf Tournament held at the Mt. Lebanon Public Golf Course.

Vietmeier won the 16-17 age group with a 75-76 – 151 score while Nicholas won the 13-15 division with a 76-79 – 155 mark. Vietmeier is a senior at Mt. Lebanon High School while Nicholas is a sophomore.

Senior Steven McFarland edged junior Sam Bellini in a playoff for runner-up honors in the 16-17 division. Luke Rolfsen and Cory Koval finished second and third in the 13-15 age group.