PT’s Benson settles for 2nd, qualifies for state golf
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Ellie Benson blasts her way out of a sand trap during the final round of the WPIAL Class 3A girls golf championships at Diamond Run Golf Course. The Peters Township sophomore qualified for the PIAA Championships to be held Oct. 16-17 at Penn State.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Ellie Benson puts her full force into her tee shot during final round action in the WPIAL Class 3A girls golf championships at Diamond Run.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Ellie Benson of Peters Township tied for ninth place in the PIAA Class 3A Girls Golf Championships.
By Eleanor Bailey
Ellie Benson reacts as her putt for par rolls away from the hole during second round action in the WPIAL Class AAA girls’ golf championships.
SEWICKLEY – Ellie Benon finished in third place at the WPIAL Class 3A girls golf championship as a freshman.
This year, it was second place.
But the emotions behind those placements could not be more different.
Last year, Benson surprised the group of golfers at Valley Brook Country Club with her third-place finish.
On Wednesday, over the 5,500-yard, tree-lined par 72 Diamond Run Country Club course, the feeling for Benson was much different from last year.
The sophomore from Peters Township High School struggled through the five-hour round, giving up the lead and shooting 13 over-par 85.
Mya Morgan, a sophomore from Elizabeth Forward, rallied past Benson and won the Class 3A event, shooting 2-over 74.
Senior Lihini Ranaweera of Seneca Valley finished third, one shot behind Benson.
The good news is that Benson still qualified for the PIAA Class 3A Championships on Penn State’s Blue-White Course Oct. 16-17.
“Mainly, one bad shot led to a lot of bad shots,” said Benson, who came into today with a two-stroke lead over Morgan. “The course was playing tough. I mean, I tried.”
While Morgan was unleashing 300-yard drives, the other two golfers in the threesome – Benson and Paige Meyers of Oakland Catholic – were coming up short by 80 and sometimes 90 yards.
“A couple bad shots on a couple holes really put a dent in my score,” Benson said. “I got off to a good start. So there were definitely some highs.”
Benson shot 1-under after four holes but a double bogey on the par-3 five and a quadruple bogey on the par-4 seventh wiped those gains away. Benson parred the final two holes to make the turn at 5-over 40.
Benson started the back nine with a triple-bogey seven and bogeyed the par-5 12th and the par-3 13.
“It was mainly my tee shots,” Benson said. “I would say I put myself in trouble off the tee. I hit into the fescue and that’s not a good place to be. You have to make sure you put the ball in play.”
Benson said she got a lot of experience last year and was confident she could hold off the field. But a triple-bogey seven on the par-4 16 and a bogey on the par-4 18th sandwiched her second birdie of the dau on the par-four 17th.
“I have to play a calm round next week,” said Benson. “There is very little room for error. This isn’t the first time I lost the lead in a tournament and it probably won’t be my last.”
Benson hasn’t decided on a college yet but Wake Forest is high on her list.
“I’ve loved that college since the fifth grade,” said Benson. “One of my friends went there and it inspired me to take a closer look. They have a great golf program.”
Morgan said once she got three shots ahead, she was on cruise control.
“The greens are the toughest part of the course,” said Morgan. “No. 7 was where everybody struggled. If you go past the hole, you go all the way down the hill.”
Brooke Vowcheck, Benson’s teammate, finished tied for eighth, one shot away from qualifying for the state tournament.
The top seven in Class 3A and top six in Class 2A qualified for the state tournament.
Sophia Covelli of Neshannock won Class 2A by one stroke over Pearl Lundgren of Eden Christian.
Sophia Severns, a junior at Peters Towship, finished in 11th place. Amelia Severns, a senior at PT, finished in 19th place. Junior Gabby Catalogna of Peters Township, finished 22nd.