Oct 9, 2024 3 min read

Name: Ellie Benson

School: Peters Township

Class: Junior

Sports: Golf

Benson’s week: Benson entered the final round of the WPIAL Class 3A girls individual championship with a three-stroke lead, and after completing 18 holes at Butler Country Club on a rainy Monday, the Peters Township junior not only held on to her advantage, but increased it to win her first district title.

Benson shot a 2-over 74 to finish with a two-round total of 149 after carding a 3-over 75 at Willowbrook Country Club in the first round. She avenged last year’s second-place finish to Elizabeth Forward’s Mya Morgan, who shot 157 (+13). Benson placed third as a freshman.

“There were some nerves before I teed off, but I felt pretty good about my game the whole day,” Benson said. “I was relaxed and it was great to see my teammates do so well. I am so happy for them.”

Benson will not travel by herself when she plays for a state championship Oct. 21-22 at the Penn State Golf Courses. The Indians had all four starters qualify, with freshman Betty Glyptis (161, +17), and seniors Sophia Severns (162, +18) and Brooke Vowcheck (168, +24) making the cut for the PIAA individual tournament.

“I’ve seen a lot of growth and development on our team,” said Benson.

The Indians are the defending state champions in Class 3A, as they won the program’s first title while shooting a state record of 231 on the 5,201-yard, par 72 Blue Course at Penn State. Benson carded a 73 at team states a year ago.

Benson has been Peters Township’s No. 1 golfer since her freshman season. The Indians are 36-0 in matches Benson started as the top golfer.

Veteran golfer: Benson has been playing golf since she was 4, and started to play in tournaments when she was 7. She believes the game started to come easier to her around middle school.

“It was definitely tough at first,” Benson said. “I went to U.S. kids tournaments and would get beat pretty bad. It was discouraging, but over time I started to play better and realized golf was the sport I wanted to do.”

Benson doesn’t play any other sports, as golf and academics take up most of her time. She will play some miniature golf and enjoys heading to Topgolf to play without the pressures that come in a major tournament.

“I would like to play golf collegiately, but I am still weighing my options on what school I would like to attend,” Benson said. “Academics are also extremely important, so I have to factor that into my decision.”

All business: While she has made plenty of friends golfing, Benson doesn’t make many jokes once she has teed off.

“I stay quiet during the round because I’m very competitive,” Benson said. “During practice and once the round is over, I enjoy talking to the other players. I have made so many friends from all over going to different tournaments during the offseason.

“I also like to see the other WPIAL girls do well when we go to the state tournament. I think our area is well represented.”

Compiled by Jonathan Guth