Carmichaels, Peters Township fall short in soggy WPIAL team golf finals
A chunk of grass goes flying as Parker Johnson hits out of a tight spot on the No. 9 hole during the WPIAL Class AAA team championships.
Matt Barrish of Carmichaels watches as his putt makes it way into the hole during WPIAL Class AA boys' golf championship action. Barrish carded a 78 for the Mike
Matt Barrish of Carmichaels watches as his putt makes it way into the hole during WPIAL Class AA boys' golf championship action. Barrish carded a 78 for the Mikes.
Remmey Lohr drives the ball during WPIAL Class AA boys' team championship action. The sophomore carded an 82.
Remmey Lohr watches her ball roll to the hole for a putt during WPIAL Class AA boys' team championship action. The sophomore carded an 82.
Eleanor Bailey
Remmey Lohr watches to see where her drive lands during WPIAL Class AA boys team championship action. The sophomore carded an 82.
BELLE VERNON – It was your typical fall day in southwestern Pennsylvania.
Persistent rain and harsh conditions.
The Carmichaels and Peters Township boys golf teams had to battle the elements and the field at the WPIAL Team Championships at Cedarbrook Golf Course Thursday afternoon.
Both squads were fell short of qualifying for the PIAA Championships that will be held in two weeks.
In their first appearance at the WPIAL championships, Carmichaels finished fourth in the six-team Class AA field with a 448 score.
“This was our goal – to get here,” Carmichaels coach Dave Briggs said. “It’s been a long season, and I’m proud of our kids. The last two seasons we went undefeated in section, but last year we finished fourth in the semifinals. It feels good to get here.”
Matthew Barrish led Carmichaels with a 78 and was even par on the front nine with a 36.
“It was a rough day out there,” Barrish said. “The conditions were just wet and it was hard to see how the ball would play on the greens. But everyone had to deal with the weather.”
Barrish commented that he again started slowly.
“I started at (No.) 10 and I had a little bit of trouble with the back nine,” Barrish said. “I parred the front nine and felt really good about those holes. I just battled back, so that was good. I just wish I could get a better start than I did.”
Other scores for the Mikes were Remmey Lohr (82), Taggart Shea (93), Ethan Greene (96) and Delaney Lohr (99). Bradley Walker’s 109 wasn’t used in the overall scoring.
Barrish and Remmey Lohr will participate in Monday’s PIAA Southwest Regional at Tom Run’s Golf Course in Blairsville.
“It’s a great accomplishment to be able to play here in the finals,” Barrish said. “It means a lot to get here since we are just a small public school in Greene County. This was our goal as a team and hopefully this program will continue to grow. I’m ready for the individual finals, and I’m just hoping I get a better start than today.”
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).
This was Peters Township’s 12th straight appearance in the Class AAA finals and the Indians have made it to the championships 15 of the last 16 seasons. Peters Township finished sixth with a 409.
Parker Johnson led the Indians with a 76.
“I played OK today,” Johnson said. “There was a couple of shots I wish I could have back, but that’s golf. I didn’t really have the nerves today and the weather was a nonfactor. It seems like every match it rains, so you just get use to it.”
Other scorers for Peters Township were Ryan Marshall (80), Christian Schreiber (82), Andrew Poon (85), Joe Pisarcik (86) and Ellian Ascencio (86).
“I’m really proud of our team this season,” Johnson said. “We are young, and as a senior I was the only returning starter. We set high goals and there’s always high expectations at Peters. We just wanted to get to the finals because anything can happen in the finals.”
Central Catholic won the Class AAA boys title with 372, followed by Fox Chapel (378), Shady Side Academy (390), Seneca Valley (396) and Pine-Richland (406).
North Allegheny won the Class AAA girls team title with a 294 and the runner-up was Upper St. Clair with a 332. Greensburg Central Catholic took the Class AA girls team crown, followed by a second place finish from Sewickley Academy at 353.