Oct 1, 2024 By Eleanor Bailey 4 min read

Connor McKenzie shot a 69 at Oakmont during the final round of the WPIAL Class 3A golf championships. The Upper St. Clair senior finished eighth overall and qualified for the PIAA tournament to be held Oct. 21-23 at Penn State. McKenzie is pictured with his father, Michael, and his grandfather, Phil Newcamp, who was the former golf pro at St. Clair Country Club.

Connor McKenzie of Upper St. Clair submitted one of the two best final rounds on the fabled golf course at Oakmont Country Club during the WPIAL Class 3A championships played Oct. 1. The senior fired a 2-under-par 69 to place eighth overall at the tournament and qualified for the PIAA championships to be held Oct. 21-23 at Penn State.

“Obviously to fire a 69 on a course where the professionals play is unreal,” said the 17-year-old son of Michael and Kristen McKenzie. “It was special because my whole family was there.”

While part of McKenzie’s entourage included his grandfather, retired golf pro Phil Newcamp, his paternal grandfather was there in spirit. Regis McKenzie, who played football at Siena College before attending Harvard Law School, passed away in 2001. He served as Oakmont president in 1985.

“Funny story,” McKenzie began. “He snuck onto the course to watch the U.S. Open once. After that he wanted to become a member and he did. He was not a very good golfer though.”

During the first round of the competition, held on the unforgiving Southpointe Golf Course, McKenzie performed like his paternal grandfather. He carded an 83 and barely made the cut for the final round. The showing likely cost him his shot at the title.

McKenzie finished eighth overall with a 152, 11 off the winning pace set by Colton Lusk, who was the only other golfer to score under 70, carding a 67 on the final round.

McKenzie was the WPIAL runner-up last year.

“Super disappointed,” McKenzie said. “I wanted to win (the WPIAL title) but I had a bad round,” he admitted.

“I didn’t plan to have a 69 but after shooting a 71 in my practice round, I was feeling good. A practice round though is way different than actually playing.”

Indeed, McKenzie bogeyed his first two holes but recovered. His round included an eagle on No. 5 and five birdies. He also shot par on seven holes. He finished the front nine with a 2-under-par 34 and broke even on the back nine.

“Back-to-back bogeys can certainly get you rattled but I wasn’t too nervous because I knew there was a lot of golf left to play,” McKenzie said.

“Golf is a mental game,” he continued. “That played a big key today because I did what my uncle encouraged me to do. Ninety percent is before you hit the shot and I needed to take a half second to think about what I was doing.”

What McKenzie did well was putt and that pleased him.

“The hole felt like a bucket,” he enthused. “It seemed I could make anything.”

As one of the Top 14 finishers in the WPIAL, McKenzie gained a spot in the PIAA tournament to be held Oct. 21-23 at Penn State. Last year, he fired a 71-72-143 and finished 14th overall.

“The goal is to win the states. If not, give it my best run,” McKenzie said.

McKenzie believes last year’s experience will serve him well as will his showing at Oakmont.

“A big thing in golf is momentum,” he said. “This gives me a momentum boost going into states.”

It’s also catapulting his career. McKenzie expects to golf in college. His top choice is Marshall University but Robert Morris and Rider University are also interested in his talent. He plans to major in business or finance but would not rule out a career in golf.

“My dream is to one day play on television,” he said. “If not be a golf pro like my grandpa. I love him to death. He’s my best friend. They don’t make them any better. He’s cool to me.”