Oct 4, 2006 By Jim Downey 5 min read

BULLSKIN TWP. – Seven of the first 20 golfers to finish the WPIAL Boys Individual Golf southern regional Tuesday at Pleasant Valley Country Club shot 79 or better, but at least that many more were positioned to match that score after shooting under 40 on the front. The course won the back nine, dashing the hopes of some while pushing Laurel Highlands’ Josh John, Uniontown’s David Bobish and Jefferson-Morgan’s Justin Hughes back into contention.

John’s 81 was good enough for one of the 12 berths into next Wednesday’s WPIAL Boys Individual Golf Championship at Totteridge Golf Club while Bobish and Hughes went to a playoff for the final spot after shooting 82.

Bobish birdied the second playoff hole for a spot in the district finals. Hughes is the first alternate.

Uniontown’s Seth Rockwell and Geibel Catholic’s Ed Spotts didn’t have the anxious times of scoreboard watching, both posting a score early that was hard to beat. Rockwell, in the first foursome, finished with a 7-over-par 78 while Spotts, playing in the next quartet, fired a 5-over 76.

The grounds crew at Pleasant Valley not only cut the greens, but rolled them as well so players had some problems with the fast pace, making the hopeful score in the 70s doubtful at times.

“I thought I would have to shoot in the 70s. I felt good coming in, but I had a tough time with the greens. They were quick and didn’t break as much,” said Rockwell, who finished the front nine with a 40. “I had three bad 3-putts. I birdied Nos. 15 & 17, but I had more bogeys than I wanted to.

“I got down on myself with a six on No. 7. I just wanted to stay in the 70s and try to advance.”

Rockwell, a senior, had thoughts of this being his last shot at the district finals.

“I never made it past the semifinals. Coming up to Nos. 17 and 18, I was thinking about it.”

Spotts, a junior, was in his third regional qualifier in as many years, but hadn’t fared well in the previous two attempts. He had a bit of advantage since the Gators play their home matches at Pleasant Valley.

“Playing my home course, I had a lot more confidence off the tee,” explained Spotts. “I wasn’t going to let myself play bad. I felt a little nervous before I teed off, but was okay once I started playing. These are the best greens I’ve seen since the summer. They were rolling real nice.

Spotts didn’t have a birdie, finishing with five bogeys and 13 pars. He had the second-best round on the front with a 35.

“I consistently 2-putted on the front nine, but I had four 3-putts (on the back). I made dumb mistakes,” said Spotts, who hit 14 greens in regulation.

“I thought 79 would qualify. I wanted to shoot below that.”

Spotts is ready to make the most of his trip to the WPIAL Championship.

“I finally got (to the WPIAL finals). It’s not good enough to make it to next week. I want to keep advancing,” said Spotts. “I feel the torch has been passed to me.”

Mount Pleasant’s Anthony Prailey shared medallist honors with Indiana’s Ryan Sweithelm and Latrobe’s Ken Porembka at 4-over 75. Prailey birdied Nos. 2 and 11, and double-bogeyed No. 6, but otherwise had a steady round of golf.

“I had a lot of pars and hit a lot of greens. I 2-putted a lot of greens,” said Prailey. “I was pleased with my score on the front (a 37) and felt I could score on the back. I had a lot of confidence coming on to the back.”

Hempfield’s Kyle McCullough cruised through the front nine with an even-par 34, but ballooned to 44 on the back with a couple bad holes to finish tied with Rockwell.

Waynesburg Central’s Zach Schloemer was forced to scoreboard watching after shooting a 79, until the scores grew higher after he finished. He tied with Latrobe’s Matt Miller, carding a birdie, 2 double bogeys and six bogeys.

“I was kinda nervous, but I was feeling really good on the back nine,” said Schloemer, who went out in 39 and came home with a 40. “The layout in the back nine suited me better. Putting on the fast greens got to me. By the back nine, my speed was a lot better.

“I wasn’t worried about a place, as long as it was in the top 12.”

Matt Rebitch matched John’s round at 81.

DIVOTS: Uniontown was the only team to have two qualifiers. … Players from Division I, Sections 1 and 2 and Division II, Sections 2 and 8 competed. … Brownsville’s Ron Jones just missed the cut with an 83, as did Southmoreland’s Jared Watkiss. … Connellsville’s Cody Boors was positioned to make the cut after shooting a 38 on the front, but had problems on the back and finished with an 84. … Mapletown’s Joel Kovach and Jefferson-Morgan’s Josh Kokoska, the only freshman in the field, both finished at 85. … The regular season has about a week remaining, and several teams are in the hunt for section titles and playoff berths. Uniontown and Mount Pleasant have both clinched a spot out of Division I, Section 8 with both squads tied with only one loss. Geibel Catholic has clinched a spot in Division II, Section 2, but has a chance for a share of the title with remaining home matches with Greensburg Central Catholic and Frazier. Frazier trails by two matches in the hunt for a playoff berth. In Division II, Section 8, Jefferson-Morgan has wrapped up a playoff berth and is undefeated to date. Waynesburg Central and Mapletown are fighting for the final spot.