Fayette County Scholastic Open
Mustangs’ Katzeff repeat champion Different year, same top finishes.
Brandon Katzeff successfully defended his Fayette County Scholastic Open title Monday by firing a 2-under-par 70 at Duck Hollow while leading the Laurel Highlands Mustangs back to the team title.
Don Crawford’s squad finished with a team total of 392 with Katzeff, Cory Chrise and Brian John earning three of the nine all-county spots.
Defending his 2001 title was on his mind, but didn’t weigh Katzeff down in the first competitive high school round of the season.
“I just wanted to win it. It’s my last year,” Katzeff said. “I definitely wanted to defend my title in my senior year.”
Katzeff started off on the right foot and carried momentum through his round on his home course.
“It was solid,” Katzeff said of his round. “I hit a lot of fairways and a lot of greens. I shot even on the front even though I bogeyed No. 5.”
The county champion got that shot back on the par-5, No. 8 when he hit driver, 4-iron and two-putted for a birdie.
After a birdie on No. 10, his game took a step backward when a bad drive led to a double bogey on No. 11. He rallied three holes later when he drove the green on the par-4, No. 14 and two-putted for a birdie.
“I was very confident through No. 14, but I still wanted to finish strong. Mr. Crawford stresses that,” Katzeff said. “No. 11 bothered me. I didn’t want to take any double bogeys.”
Chrise was pleased with most of his game, though a bit disappointed with his putter while finishing with a 5-over-par 77. He had three bogeys, one double bogey and two birdies on the day.
“This is the best I’ve ever hit my driver and irons. My putter was mediocre. I could’ve been better,” Chrise said.
“I lipped out three birdies, but I can’t complain (about his round). It was an all-around good day. Hopefully, a day like this will carry on (through the season).”
John shot a 79, a round he needed to help the Mustangs win the title.
“I didn’t play a solid round, but, when I needed a par, I got one. I tried to have fun. I wanted to help my team the most,” the senior said.
“I putted poorly, but I worked around it. My iron play was solid. (The round) could’ve been a 75.”
The early team leaders in the clubhouse were the Albert Gallatin Colonials, but Bernie Wydo’s squad settled for second place with a 405, one shot ahead of Uniontown. Josh Francis and Larry Wise anchored the Albert Gallatin attack by earning berths on the all-county team.
“This is my best round this year,” Francis proclaimed. “I putted the ball so great. I was putting in 20-footers. I saved par with so many one putts.”
Francis’ round turned around when he birdied No. 12, then lipped an eagle putt on No. 13 before making a second birdie. He believed his and his teammates’ performances could be the start of something special.
“This is big for us. Now (the other Division II, Section 2 teams) know we can play with the big boys.”
Wise started poorly on the back nine, but finished strong on the front for a 79.
“When I got on the front nine, everything came around. My whole game came around,” Wise said.
Uniontown, the 2000 team champion, placed Zach Rockwell and Bobby Umbel on the all-county squad. Rockwell shot a 77 while Umbel was a stroke back.
“I’m not disappointed with the way I hit the ball. I could’ve scored better. I had a lot of birdie opportunities I missed. I made some really bad bogeys. I should’ve scored better,” Rockwell said.
“It was one of those days I grinded all day. I fought my swing all the way except for a birdie on No. 12,” Umbel said. “I did nothing spectacular. Everything was average. I was happy with a 78.
“Nothing really worked. Getting up and down helped out a lot, too. Towards the end, I felt I was going to lose it. I had to bear down and get it together.”
The remaining two spots on the all-county team were filled by Brownsville golfers. Josh Seelye finished second with a 75 with teammate Ryan Bashour a shot behind in third. The Falcons finished fourth.
“I hit a lot of close iron shots. I had six birdies, almost. I missed five 6-foot birdie putts,” Seelye said. “I hit a few bad drives, but salvaged par. I felt good throughout the whole round. I didn’t want to shoot in the 80s. I wanted to be in the 70s.”
Bashour said he scrambled around the course despite opening up with a birdie.
“I scrambled for a lot of pars. I hit a lot of fairways. I started with a birdie, then went down and leveled out. I shot even on the back nine. For the first round, everything went okay.
“I wish I had the swing on the back I had on the front.”
Chip-ins: Bret Herspold led Belle Vernon with an 83. … Jeff Nicholson was low man for Connellsville with an 86. … Frazier had a tough day as a team with Chris Bissett’s 96 the low round for the Commodores. … Freshman Phil Lucostic was low man for Geibel Catholic with an 83. … Three top-flight golfers missed the championship because of other tournaments. Uniontown’s Greg Franko, Connellsville’s Jordan Craig and Geibel Catholic’s James McGrath were all out of town for Monday’s county tournament. … Section play for Division I, Section 2 and Division II, Section 8 begins on Thursday with Division II, Section 2 starting next Tuesday.