Golf binds father-daughter duo
Craig and Ella McRoberts combined to win the Pennsylvania Parent-Child Championships held at the Bedford Springs Resort. The pair shot matching 2-under-par 70s for a two-day total of 140 to capture the title.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Ella McRoberts looks to be one of the top female golfers this fall. The Peters Township senior finished eighth in the PIAA championships, first in the Western Regional and third in the WPIAL last season.
Craig McRoberts is an executive vice president for Hefren-Tillotson.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Craig and Ella McRoberts combined to win the Pennsylvania Parent-Child Championships held at the Bedford Springs Resort. The pair shot matching 2-under-par 70s for a two-day total of 140 to capture the title.
Ella McRoberts inherited her father’s height, but not his interest in basketball or baseball. Her father, Craig, was a state and WPIAL champion for Bethel Park’s baseball team, as well as a three-year letter winner and starter for the boys basketball team.
“Honestly, I never got into basketball, nor softball,” said the 6-foot rising senior at Peters Township. “Never tried either actually. Don’t know why. They just did not interest me.”
Golf, however, grabbed her attention.
When McRoberts picked up her first club at Valley Brook Country Club during her middle school years, she discovered her passion.
“My dad asked me if I wanted to go to the driving range and I said ‘sure,'” Ella said. “I hit some balls and enjoyed it. I fell in love right away.”
Before she knew it, Ella received her first set of clubs from her father.
“He was happy,” she said. “One of his kids finally was interested.”
Late bloomer
Craig McRoberts had little regard for golf until his baseball career at Penn State concluded. He would develop into a four-time individual champion at Valley Brook Country Club.
“I attended high school during the pre-Tiger Woods era when golf wasn’t cool,” he said. “Now you have good athletes playing. Part of me does wish I would have done it because I see what a blast team golf can be when I see Ella playing. But I never took it seriously.”
The pair took the Pennsylvania Golf Association’s Parent-Child Championships to heart. In fact, they had a blast wresting the title from defending champions Robert Cooper and Allison Wix.
Craig and Ella fired matching 2-under par 70s to card a two-day total of 140 and edge Cooper and Wix, who combined to shoot 143, and win the tournament played at Bedford Springs Resort.
“It was a fun tournament,” Craig said. “Winning a tournament with my daughter was a lot more fun than winning one on my own. It was a great three days together. Even more special was we both played well and came away with the win.”
Ella agreed.
“Playing with my dad, who has taught me all I know, and teaming up with him at such a high-level competition was really enjoyable. With all the craziness that has been happening these days too, I was able to spend a wonderful weekend with my dad.
“We are both pretty fierce competitors, but we knew when to joke around and when we needed to be serious and pull together. When you combine our competitiveness, the two of us are tough to beat. We worked well together and played well as a team.”
The tandem took advantage of each other’s strengths playing. Ella is the better driver and Craig the better iron player as well as putter.
“We made a good team. We paired well,” Craig said. “Ella drove well. She gave me short irons and we had a lot of birdie putts.
“We got along wonderfully,” he added. “Ella’s calm and even-keel like me. We know how to keep it loose and have a lot fun.”
As a father, Craig does not put pressure on Ella. During the tournament, he provided bits of advice.
Ella also relies on the coaching of Cool Springs professional Dan Reilly, whom she has worked with for almost seven years.
“It’s not difficult. That was the plan all along,” Craig said. “I know how to separate from being a dad. She has a dedicated coach and I let him handle her.”
Craig and his wife, Lori, are helping Ella negotiate the recruiting process. She plans to golf in college while majoring in public policy or economics. Currently, Allegheny, Denison and Bucknell are interested in her 4.24 GPA as well as her 3.4 handicap.
Looking forward to fall
Last year, Ella placed third in the WPIAL, won the Western Regional and claimed All-State acclaim with a top 8 finish in the PIAA tournament. She said she is excited, yet apprehensive, that the WPIAL championships will be held Oct. 8 at Oakmont Country Club.
“It’s hard not to get caught up in the fact that there is so much history and that you’ve seen the pros hit in the same spots you’ll be walking over, but it’s going to be a cool experience competing on the course at Oakmont,” Ella said.
The competition at Oakmont should be fierce, as Ella will contend with South Fayette’s Carolina McConnell, Butler’s Paige Scott, Mt. Lebanon’s Lindsay Powanda and Fox Chapel’s Nina Bush.
“There is a lot of good competition,” Ella said. “The key will be to keep consistent through the round and avoid big numbers. Keep the ball in play and have a strong short game. Plus, the greens are the fastest in Pittsburgh. That makes it hard and difficult to control. But the more practice you get the more prepared you are.”
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Ella hopes to help the Peters Township girls golf team contend for a WPIAL title and PIAA playoff appearance. The Indians finished third behind North Allegheny and Upper St. Clair in the district team finals last fall.
“I’m hopeful we’ll have a school year as normal as possible and that golfers and other athletes can have their seasons, too,” Ella said. “I’m trying to be optimistic. I want it to be special, especially since it’s my senior year.”
Special season
Ella knows how special her father’s senior season was.
Craig batted .339 and helped Bethel Park defeat Wilson 13-6 to capture the 1988 PIAA Class AAA championship at Seth Grove Field in Shippensburg. The win came after a heartbreaking, nine-inning loss to Penn-Ridge in the 1987 state final.
“My dad tells me about his high school experience and it’s so cool,” Ella said. “It’s definitely a motivating factor because I’d love to have one like his.”
Craig just wants Ella to enjoy the ride.
“I hope she gets one more run at it. Actually, I hope all the athletes get a chance,” he said. “But I have always told Ella that she only gets four years to do this so enjoy every single moment. The matches. The bus rides. I told her that as a freshman, when we were just starting out, how fast it would go and here we are now.”
Business success
Craig has been employed since 1993 as a financial advisor and executive vice president for Hefren-Tillotson. Along with his partner, Dan Richmond, Craig took part in Hefren-Tillotson’s recent upgrade to a 14,000-square foot Southpointe office.
“I’m so proud to see our footprint growing,” Craig said. “It’s a great region with wonderful people. I so enjoy helping people. That’s the best aspect of the job. Helping people retire, put their kids through college plan their legacy if applicable. Being in a position to help people is most gratifying.”
Craig said sports has helped him in business and as a parent.
“There are so many lessons you can learn from performing in sports itself that you can carry on in life. Teamwork, sportsmanship and competitiveness. All those intangibles,” he said. “Then there is the practice and preparation you may put into a game that can be applicable to a meeting in a certain way.”
Ella said she is hoping to gain a similar perspective on the golf course.
“It’s unique from an individual and team aspect and the competition,” she said. “Golf teaches you a lot. It’s definitely a lifetime sport.”
Age: 17
Birthday: May 16
Parents: Craig and Lori
Siblings: Brady, 15, Lia, 12
School: Peters Township
Year: Senior
GPA: 4.25
Sports: Golf
Activities: National Honor Society, Law and Government Club, Wind Symphony
College choices: Allegheny, Denison and Bucknell
Major: Public policy or economics
Favorite class: Legal systems
Favorite teacher: AP language instructor, Tiffany Kocan.
Food: Tacos
Color: Red.
Restaurant: Bartram House Bakery
Book: Federalist Papers. ‘It was the last one I read. I had to read it for my AP government class. Last one I read.’
Movie: A Few Good Men
Favorite athlete: Jordan Speith and Jake Geuntzel. “It’s a tie between the two. I like them both.”
Who would play you in a movie: “Who’s tall? I don’t watch that many films so I don’t know that many actresses.”
Dream Destination: Bora Bora. “It’s really pretty there. I do hate flying though so that would be an issue.”
People might be surprised to know this about you: I play the flute
Person you would like to have dinner with: Abraham Lincoln. “He was such an historical figure and did so much that shaped our country today.
Lesson sports has taught you: Never give up because there is always time to improve and nothing is over as soon as it starts.
In 15 years, I will be: Hopefully working in D.C. and still golfing for fun.
What would you like to get around to doing: Learning how to sew because it’s a useful skill.
Age: 49
Birthday: Aug. 30
Parents: Bev and Grant McRoberts
Sibling: Linda
High School: Bethel Park
Sports: Baseball, basketball
Significant achievement: Played on 1988 PIAA championship and 1987 WPIAL winning baseball teams
College: Penn State University
Major: Business
Sport: Baseball
Occupation: Financial advisor and executive vice president for Hefren-Tillotson, Inc.
Color: Blue
Food: Anything Italian
Restaurant: Pasta Too
Movie: Field of Dreams or Caddy Shack. “It’s a tough call.”
Music: Anything from growing up in the 1980s.
Book: “I Love Capitalism!” By Ken Langone the founder of Home Depot.
Person would like to have dinner: Bob Van Wickle. “My father who passed when I was 2.”
Dream Destination: To play at Augusta National
Favorite athlete: Tiger Woods. “All his shenanigans aside.”
People might be surprised to know this about you: I am more competitive than I might seem.”
Highlight: “There have been a million from having wonderful parents to three amazing children but No. 1 has to be getting married to my wonderful wife, Lori.”
What would you like to get around to doing? “Of course, I want to retire some day. Once the kids are out of the house, I look forward to more free time and time to work on the golf game.”