Rockets fifth in WPIAL golf finals
BELLE VERNON – Jefferson-Morgan golf coach John Curtis kept everything in perspective after the Rockets completed their rounds Thursday in the program’s first trip to the WPIAL Boys Division II Golf Team Championship at Cedarbrook Golf Course’s Golf course. “We beat a Division I team and a Division II team,” said Curtis with a wry smile. “One of the teams we beat (Wednesday) is carrying out a trophy.”
Jefferson-Morgan, the Division II, Section 8 champion, finished fifth in the six-team Division II championship with a team score of 441, 24 strokes ahead of St. Joseph’s.
Sewickley Academy won the team title with a 408 with Burgettstown, who finished in third behind the Rockets in the semifinals, placed second with a 416.
Shenango was third with 435, finishing four strokes ahead of Center.
Justin Hughes had the best round of the day for the Rockets with an 83. He began on the back nine with a 44, but managed a better round on the front with a 39.
“I had a rough first nine. I wasn’t on in the first nine,” said Hughes. “The last three holes on the first nine were shaky. I missed a putt on No. 18 I should have made.”
Hughes wasn’t nervous in his first WPIAL finals, hitting a perfect drive off the No. 10 tee. He didn’t have a 3-putt, either.
“My best drive was my first drive. My putting was good. I only missed one putt today I should’ve made,” said Hughes.
Curtis had some words of encouragement at the turn, and Hughes responded.
“I recovered on the back. I was even through the first five holes. I birdied No. 5 and was in good spirits,” said Hughes.
Because the semifinals were pushed back a day because of rain, the team didn’t get a practice round in. Hughes felt that might have been a good thing.
“It would’ve been nice to have a practice round, but not having a practice round probably saved my score. I played conservatively,” explained Hughes.
As with his coach, Hughes kept the day in its proper perspective.
“We knew we were underdogs. We just wanted to do good as a team. I just wanted to make our school look as good as I could,” said Hughes.
Josh Kokoska shot 44 on the front and 42 on the back to finish with an 86. Zack Basinger shot an 89 (41-48) while Matt Kokoska mirrored Hughes’ round, opening on the back with a 51 before recovering on the front with a 40 to finish with a 91.
“I started off terrible. It was a little bit of everything,” said Matt Kokoska. “By the seventh hole I realized I was out of it. I quit playing for score and stared playing for pride.”
Brian Scritchfield rallied from his tough day in the semifinals to shoot a 92. Dylan Blosser’s 95 wasn’t used.
Curtis is used to making runs through the WPIAL and PIAA playoffs as the Rockets’ baseball coach, but the team golf championships was a new experience for him, one he’d like to repeat next year because he has no seniors on the team.
“We got our feet wet. This was a very good course and it played long. We have to learn to play good courses better,” said Curtis. “The guys who started on the back played better on the front. They didn’t give up.
“Honestly, I didn’t know how we would do today. I was concerned what they would shoot. We don’t have any long hitters.”
Curtis acknowledged the assistance of club professional Brian Dunaway at Greene County Country Club.
“He’s one of the reasons for our success. During the course of the season, he’ll take some time with the kids and work with them,” said Curtis. “I just want to thank him for that.”
Reflecting on the first days of the season back in August, Curtis, a member of the WPIAL golf committee, knew he would be at the championship but didn’t think the Rockets would.
“I certainly didn’t expect to be here today. I didn’t know they would play this well. This is something our kids can take back to the other kids,” said Curtis. “I’m a bit in awe (of the championships). All the people, it’s a great situation to be in.”
DIVOTS: Sewickley Academy’s William Miller was the Division II medallist with a 1-over 73. … Fox Chapel won the Division I team title with a 406. Upper St. Clair was second with a 412, two strokes ahead of North Allegheny. … Fox Chapel’s Adam Hoffman was the Division I medallist with a 74.