Peters Twp. sweeps golf team titles; BV wins 1st
Colton Lusk watches the flight of his tee shot during WPIAL Class 3A team championship action.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Colton Lusk clears his shot out of the rough during WPIAL Class 3A team championship action.
Colton Lusk reacts as his putt just misses the hole on No. 9 during the WPIAL Class 3A team championship action.
Colton Lusk of Peters Township watches intently as he attempts a putt during WPIAL Class 3A team championship action.
Sam Bishop of South Fayette blasts his way out of the sand trap on No. 9 during WPIAL Class 3A team championship golf action.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Trevor Kovatch of Belle Vernon focuses on his putt during WPIAL Class 2A team championship action.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Trevor Kovatch of Belle Vernon connects on his tee shot on No. 10 during the WPIAL Class 2A team championships.
Ryan Watterson of Peters Township watches as he shot rolls toward the hole during WPIAL Class 3A team championship action.
Griffin Hansberry of Peters Township watches his shot approach the hole during WPIAL Class 2A team championship action.
Ben Miller of Peters Township watches as his putt falls just short of the hole during WPIAL Class 3A team championship action.
Shane Williams of Peters Township hits his approach shot onto the green during WPIAL Class 3A team championship action.
Ellie Benson strikes the ball during WPIAL Class 3A team competition.
Ellie Benson uses a little body English to coax her shot into the hole during WPIAL Class 3A team competition.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Gabby Catalogna of Peters Township watches her tee shot during WPIAL Class 3A team championship action at Cedarbrook Golf Club.
BELLE VERNON – Peters Township has a rich history in golf on both the boys and girls sides, and that was evident Thursday at Cedarbrook Golf Course as the Indians swept Class 3A in the team championships.
The Peters Township boys have won seven district titles and the girls captured their third in four years.
Belle Vernon’s boys program has been solid the past decade but has not been able to get over the hump in winning the team title.
The Leopards were able to gain some redemption this season and win their first championship after losing the Class 2A team title last year in a playoff.
The PIAA team championships are Oct. 18 at Penn State University.
The Peters Township boys combined for an 11-over-par 371 to win the title. The Indians’ other team championships came in 1981, 2004, 2008, 2010, 2014 and 2015. PT has qualified for the team finals in 20 of the last 21 years.
“These guys are a committed group,” Peters Township coach David Kuhn said. “I’m happy for these kids because these kids had a purpose. We lost by two (strokes) last year. No one gave us a chance last year. They were all sophomores.
“My assistant coach, Jeff Chastel, was our advice giver today. I might have built the car, but Jeff drove the car today and he did a great job. My other assistants, Joe DiPardo and Brian Ferrell all contributed.”
The PT girls team won the team championship last season and in 2020. The Indians shot 322 on the red course.
Sophomore Ellie Benson carded a 77 before Brooke Vowcheck came in at No. 2 with a 1-over-par 72. Sophia Severns fired an 86 and Gabby Catalogna closed her team’s scoring with an 87.
“We are expecting big things from our girls next week,” Mike Lacey said. “We have a pretty quick turnaround before the state tournament. Ellie (Benson) will go up earlier to play in the individual tournament, and then the team will play Wednesday.”
Benson, a sophomore, placed third last season.
“I really enjoyed my experience last year in the individual state tournament,” Benson said. “I have been working really hard and am hoping to play well. For the team, I am just very proud of everyone and happy to have them as teammates.”
Vowcheck, a junior, qualified for the individual state tournament as a freshman and will be making back-to-back appearances in the state tournament as a team.
“We are undefeated this season and have all played really good,” Vowcheck said. “We set a record score of 149 in one of our nine-hole matches, and I think that really boosted our confidence. We are looking to win it all at states.”
Belle Vernon lost to Sewickley Academy in a playoff last year, but didn’t have to play any extra holes in shooting 417 to defeat Neshannock by five strokes. Mohawk was in third place at 431.
Rogan Maloney carded a 79 and Jack Edwards came in at 81. Jordan Mocello (85), Seth Tomalski (86) and John Bellisimo (86) rounded out the scoring for the Leopards.
“Finishing runner-up last year was tough, but at the end of the day, we got the job done today, and that’s all that matters,” Belle Vernon coach Melvin Gouker said. “The kid that missed the putt last year that sent the final into a playoff scored a par that we needed today, so he redeemed himself from what happened last season. I’m very proud of my guys.”
Peters Township’s Colton Lusk carded a 1-under-par 71 from his No. 1 starting spot. Griffin Hansberry was the sixth starter for PT, but shot an-even par 72.
Teammates Ryan Watterson and Shane Williams came in at 75, and Nick Haught closed the scoring with a 78.
“It’s awesome to come out here and win the team title,” Haught said. “We play in a lot of 18-hole tournaments and those experiences have really helped us as a team.”
Lusk and Watterson advanced to the individual portion of the state tournament Oct. 2 at Valleybrook Country Club, but Haught wasn’t able to make the cut for states.
“I am so happy for Nick,” said Kuhn. “The growth of these guys has been expediential.”
Butler shot 378 to finish second, followed by Fox Chapel (381) and North Allegheny (390).
South Fayette sophomore Sam Bishop shot the second lowest round with a four-under par 68 as the Lions finished fifth at 399. Teammate Jackson Stephens carded a 78, followed by Brady Newman (79), Noah Nickolas (85) and Trevor D’Allesandro (89).