Defending champion PT shut out of WPIAL team golf final
Belle Vernon, South Fayette, McGuffey advance
By The Observer-Reporter
There will be a new WPIAL and PIAA Class 3A boys team golf champion this year.
In a stunning result Tuesday in the WPIAL semifinals on the links-style course at Indian Run Golf Club in Avella, defending champion Peters Township finished in fourth place and failed to advance to Thursday’s finals.
Belle Vernon, the WPIAL Class 2A champion a year ago, made program history by qualifying for the 3A final round for the first time and posting the best 18-hole team score.
The Leopards and West Allegheny tied for first place with a team
total of 379. South Fayette earned the third and final berth with 382.
The Leopards’ Seth Tomalski was medalist with a 2-under 69. Jordan Mocello finished with an even-par 71. Donnie Croftcheck (75), Landon Vaccaro (81) and Jack Edwards (83) closed out the scoring.
Peters Township won the WPIAL and state championships last year. With most of that team returning, the Indians went undefeated during the recently completed season. The Indians finished at 385 Tuesday. Colton Lusk, who recently won the WPIAL individual championship, led the Indians with a round of 71.
Seneca Valley (392), Canon-McMillan (403), and Shaler (405) also competed in the semifinal.
For Belle Vernon, the key was the front nine, where the Leopards shot 183 compared to South Fayette’s 190, and 193 for Peters Township.
Fox Chapel finished first in the Class 3A semifinal at Champion Lakes Golf Course with a team total of 380. North Allegheny was second with 390 and Plum grabbed the third and final berth with 403.
Belle Vernon will have the home-course advantage in the final round, which will be played at Cedarbrook Golf Course. The Class 2A boys and girls finals will also be played Thursday at Cedarbrook.
In Class 2A, Section 3 champion McGuffey was one of the three teams that advanced from the semifinal played at The Links at Spring Church, in Apollo. McGuffey placed third with a team score of 410, edging Freeport (411), Beaver (412) and Neshannock (413). North Catholic won with a score of 390 and Elizabeth Forward (393) was the runner-up.
WPIAL Class 2A individual champion Loagn Crowe led the Highlanders with a round of 76 with Brody Wganer (79) and Joe Sovich (80) close behind. Josh Rusmiel (82) and Devan Wilson (93) were the other scorers for the Highlanders.
Quaker Valley (398) finished first in the Class 2A semifinal held at Pleasant Valley Golf Club. Shady Side Academy (405) and Greensburg Central Catholic (407) also advanced. Waynesburg finished 10th with a score of 511.