Oct 4, 2002 By Jim Kriek For The 5 min read

WAYNESBURG – Never mind all that foofraw last week about the two-continent Ryder Cup golf competition, there was just as exciting a local version of the Ryder matches here yesterday. Host Waynesburg and Geibel Catholic of Connellsville hooked up in a Division II, Section 8 match that featured two golfers under par, two at even par, and an overall total of eight scoring under 40, as they battled right down to the final shot of the final hole.

With the first four players in on each side deadlocked at 141, Waynesburg picked up an edge in the last foursome and defeated Geibel, 173 to 182, for its 11th section win (14-4, 11-1).

At the same time, Waynesburg positively answered a big question for coach John Garber.

The Raider coach said, “We lost out first section match to California on Wednesday, leaving us both with one loss and tied for first place, and I was wondering how they would react today to that loss. But they answered very positive.”

Positive, indeed. Robert Rohanna finished 5-under-par at 28, including four birdies and an eagle, Kellen Haines and Tom Rohanna had par 33, Eric Churney 39, and Ryan Beabout 40. Andy Broadwater led Geibel (8-6, 8-5) with 2-under 31, Jim McGrath and Phil Lucostic had 36, Matt Mascia 38, and Zack Bell 41.

Of his eagle on six (300 yards, par 4), Rohanna, who was also 6 under yesterday at Carmichaels, said, “I hit a five-wood to the green and dropped a 15-foot putt.

On two (125, 3) my gap wedge shot to the green was eight-foot short, and on three (330, 4) I hit about 15 yards short of the green, chipped on, and got a 15-foot putt.”

On the fourth (320, 4) he hit a four-wood “to the right of the green, then chipped to the fringe and got a 20-foot putt. With those birds, a par, and the eagle, I was 5 under after six holes.

Everything worked today, although my chipping could have been better. I had one good chip, on eight, from about 15 feet out, and it hit the cup and rolled away. I had a good drive on eight, but my second shot went over the green. But my putting was great.

“I had only 11 putts for the round.”

This was the fourth time this year that Rohanna had 28 on the front, twice in a match, once in practice, and once when “I was just playing around.”

His best front score was 27 a year ago.

Broadwater called his 31, “My best round ever, with four birds and only two bogeys. My best previous score was par at Carmichaels.”

He noted, “On all four birds I had a real good drive to start. On three, I chipped in from about 20 yards, and on four, six, and eight (350, 4) my chips all stopped two feet short of the cup.

“Chipping was the best part of my game.

“I had some good drives, and my putter was half decent.”

Haines felt his 33 was “not a bad day.

“Driving was best for me today, and I had a good game around the greens, up and down, but bad putting resulted in two bogeys.”

Haines, who had a 30 earlier on the same nine, had birdies on four and six, coming within a foot of an eagle on the latter.

On four he “hit a drive short of the green, then chipped to four feet, and got the putt. On six, I drove down the right side of the fairway, about 30 yards from the green, and chipped to within a foot of the pin.”

Tom Rohanna allowed that “putting and chipping were best for me.

“I had two birds, two bogeys, and five pars.

“On three, I had a good drive and my pitching wedge second shot from about 75 yards stopped eight feet short.

“On six, I drove over the green about 20 yards, but chipped back with a sand wedge to 20 feet, and got the putt.

“That was my longest putt, plus a 12-footer on eight.”

Geibel’s first three golfers all had one birdie, McGrath on five (150, 3), where he missed an ace by a foot, Mascia on four, and Lucostic on three.

McGrath “hit an eight-iron that was a foot short of the cup. Driving and iron play were best for me today, but my chipping and putting could have been better.”

Mascia hit “a real good drive about 20 yards up from the green, chipped on, and got a three-foot putt.

“My wedge shots were good, but the driver and putter let me down.”

Lucostic got a “decent drive, then hit a nine-iron about 100 yards uphill to within 15 feet and got the putt. I made a few good up and downs to save par, but a double bogey on nine didn’t help. My tee shot was 30 yards in front, then I had a bad chip, and three-putted.”

Geibel coach Greg Blair called the 183 “our best round of the year as a team.

“We are a young team, and we are playing very well now. They have worked to improve themselves and they have turned around last year’s 5-7 to be 8-5. We don’t have any seniors in our top six, so the future looks good.”