PT boys sixth in the WPIAL
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
A chunk of grass flies as Parker Johnson hits out of a tight spot on the No. 9 hole during the WPIAL Class AAA team championships.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Parker Johnson watches his drive during WPIAL Class AAA team championship action.
Having only one returning starter in the line-up did not stop Peters Township from carrying on their golf tradition.
The Indians made their 12th straight appearance in WPIAL Class AAA team championships. In fact, Peters Township has competed in the finals 15 of the last 16 years.
“I’m really proud of our team this season,” said Parker Johnson, who was the team’s lone veteran and ace. “Though we were young, we set high goals. There’s always high expectations at Peters.”
The initial expectation was to reach the finals.The Indians did that by finishing among the top three teams during a semifinal match played Oct. 11 at Village Green Golf Course in Hickory. Peters Township finished behind Central Catholic (366) and Pine-Richland (391), posing a 403 score.
Joe Pisarcik posted the low score of 76. Andrew Poon followed with an 80 while both Johnson and Christian Schreiber carded 81s. Ryan Marshall and Ellian Ascencio both finished with 85s.
“We just wanted to get to the finals because anything can happen in the finals,” Johnson said.
In the finals, however, history repeated itself as Central Catholic again prevailed. The Vikings captured their third straight title and set a WPIAL record in the process with a 372 score. Fox Chapel finished second with a 378.
While Shady Side Academy followed in third place (390), Peters Township secured sixth place with a 409, behind Seneca Valley (396) and Pine-Richland (406).
On the Gold Course at Cedarbrook Golf Course, Johnson powered Peters Township. The senior carded a 76, five strokes off the pace set by Central’s Jimmy Meyers and the Foxes’ Gregor Meyer. The rivals finished with 71 scores.”There were a couple of shots I wish I could have back, but that’s golf,” Johnson said. “I didn’t really have the nerves and the weather was a non-factor. It seems like every match it rains, so you just get use to it.”
Despite the damp and soggy conditions, all of the remaining PT players shot in the 80s. Marshall followed with an 80, Schreiber and Poon finished with 82 and 85 respectively and Pisarcik and Ascencio both carded 86s.
Central Catholic was not the lone team to repeat.
Defending PIAA Class AA champion Sewickley Academy won with a 409 and advanced to the state finals for the sixth consecutive season. Elizabeth Forward and North Catholic tied for second with a 426, followed by Greensburg Central Catholic (463) and Mt. Pleasant (472).
North Allegheny won the Class AAA girls team title for the fourth straight season with a 294 and the runner-up was Upper St. Clair with a 332. (See related story.)
Greensburg Central Catholic took the Class AA girls team crown for the fourth year in a row with a 326 score. Sewickley Academy followed in second place finish at 353.
Lebo, SF ousted
During the Class AAA semifinal played at the Buffalo Golf Course, Mt. Lebanon and South Fayette played well, but not well enough to advance to the finals. The Blue Devils finished fifth and the Lions followed in sixth place.
The top three teams: Fox Chapel (369), Shady Side Academy (394) and Seneca Valley (405) advanced to the championships.
The Blue Devils carded a 411. Hayden Mitchell led the way with a 79 and Myles Hamel followed with an 80 and Sheamus Cochran added an 81. Reese Austin finished at 84 while Paul Linkowsi managed an 87. Matt Dyke finished at 89.
The Lions scored 417. Luke Lestini and Caroline McConnell each finished with 78s. James Caurek (80), Colby Geary (90) and Milena Iafrate (91) completed SF’s scoring. Alec Goldstrom also competed in the match.
Lestini was among the Top 10 finishers at the Western Regional tournament and advanced to the PIAA individual golf finals to be held Oct. 22-24 at Heritage Hills Golf Course in York.
The South Fayette junior carded a 75 in the Oct. 15 qualifier played at Tom’s Run Golf Course in Blairsville.