Mikes finish 4th in Class AA golf semifinals
DAWSON — Carmichaels was sitting in third place in the WPIAL Boys Class AA Team Golf Championship semifinals Tuesday afternoon at Linden Hall Golf Course with one threesome remaining on the course.
Unfortunately for the Mikes, South Park freshman Stone Ellis came in with an 85 to run the Eagles’ team total to 417 and knock Carmichaels from the final berth into the finals.
The top three teams advanced out of the semifinals into Thursday’s WPIAL Class AA Championship at Cedarbrook Golf Course’s Gold Course. McGuffey was the team medalist with an aggregate total of 41-over 406. Quaker Valley grabbed the final spot with a 418.
The Mikes finished with 69-over 434 for their best finish in the team semifinals. Liam Shea was the low man with a 7-over 80 on the 6,400-yard layout, going out in 42 and coming back in 38.
“I got it going a couple times, then I’d string a couple bogeys together. Then, I’d be back where I started,” said Shea. “My wedges were bad. Everything else I hit very well. That’s what kept my score up, my wedges.
“I putted really well, especially on the back nine. All I had to do was get my wedge shots on the green.”
The senior knew what he wanted to accomplish as he entered the semifinals.
“I really wanted to shoot in the 70s, 6-over or better. I thought that was solid enough for today. I was right there. I was 4-over going into No. 16 and finished with three bogeys in a row.
“My round could’ve been three to four shots better.”
Matthew Barrish, a sophomore, shot a 10-over 83. Senior Chris McAfee finished with an 87 and Taggart Shea, a freshman, carded an 88. Sophomore Ethan Greene’s 102 wasn’t used.
Delaney Lohr closed out the Mikes’ scoring with a 96. Lohr, a freshman, was the lone girl in the semifinal.
“I really wanted to shoot in the 80s. I missed it by a little bit. I shot 96, which is not bad,” said Lohr, who played from the red tees on the par-3s and gold on the rest of the holes. “I hit a lot of good chips. The greens were just aerated, so they were really rough. I couldn’t figure it out.”
As for being the only girl in the field, Lohr said, “It’s pretty cool since I’m a girl and a freshman.”
Lohr did have some anxious moments during the semifinals.
“I was nervous,” said Lohr. “I feel like I need to think about other things not relevant (to playing golf).”
Although that will change next year because Lohr said, “My sister is coming up. She’s in eighth grade.”
Southmoreland finished fifth with a team score of 437. Josh Redding was the low man for the Scotties with an 8-over 81.
Redding said he needed a few holes to get into his rhythm.
“The back nine was very comfortable,” said Redding, who played the front in 45 and the back in even-par 36. “I was getting bad lies and terrible breaks in the rough (on the front).
“I don’t even know (how he played better on the back nine). I couldn’t even tell you.”
As with most golfers, Redding felt he left some shots on the course.
“I left a lot out there, at least seven,” said Redding. “On No. 7, I lost a ball left (off the tee). That was the low point of my round.”
The Scotties, who went undefeated on their way to the Section 2-AA title, started four seniors in Tuesday’s semifinal. Noah House shot 84. Nathan Rizza finished with an 86 and Bailey Stapleton shot a 93. Jacob Wallace’s 98 wasn’t used. Junior Ryan Lemmon’s 93 counted in the final score.
While the Scotties’ season came to a close, Redding has at least one more competitive round of golf left this season when he plays in the PIAA Western Regional Qualifier at Tom’s Run on Monday.
“I think I can qualify again. I shot 80 in a practice round and have another practice round on Saturday. I like (Tom’s Run). It’s more open than most courses.,” said Redding.
California, the Section 8-AA champs, finished seventh with a score of 450. Senior Nate Luketich was the low man with an 83, going out in 42 and coming back in 41.
“It was really good except for two holes. I lost my tee shot left on No. 1 and lost two tee shots left on No. 13,” explained Luketich. “Getting off the tee every once in a while, I’d have a rough tee shot.
“I wanted to be in the 70s. Losing three balls on No. 13 cost me four shots.”
Luketich and the Trojans had a pretty good run during his four-year career.
“It was a lot of fun the past few years. It was fun to go out and win the section as a team,” said Luketich.
DIVOTS: South Park’s Tyler Brinker (79), McGuffey’s David Chapman (78) and Erik Kasperowski (79), and medalist Chris Tanabe (75) were the only golfers to break 80. … Sewickly Academy (384), Laurel (428), and Riverside (431) advanced into the finals from the Class AA semifinal at Del Mar Golf Course.