J-M’s Alexander advances to PIAA golf regional
Although Gillian Alexander fell short of defending her Class AA golf title, the Jefferson-Morgan junior added another tournament to her schedule by finishing fifth Monday in the WPIAL Class AA Girls Individual Golf Championship held at Hillcrest Golf Club in Lower Burrell.
Alexander shot a 9-over 82 to earn one of the eight Class AA berths into the PIAA Western Qualifier at Tom’s Run on Oct. 16.
Two other local hopefuls were not as fortunate, with Laurel Highlands senior Kelsey Soom finishing 15th in Class AAA after closing with a 17-over 90. Frazier’s Annika Erdely finished 15th in the Class AA final with a 27-over 100.
Alexander started on No. 10 with a splash, carding her only birdie of the round.
“I got a birdie on No. 10, but from there it went downhill,” explained the 2012 WPIAL Class AA champion. “I got anxious and lost my focus.”
Alexander gave the stroke back with a bogey-5 on No. 11, and followed with a bogey-4 on No. 12. She managed a couple pars on the next two holes, but had two bogeys over the final three holes to go out in 4-over 41.
Alexander started the front side with a bogey and par before taking a triple bogey-8 on No. 3, her 12th hole.
“I hit a real good tee shot,” said Alexander. “A creek runs before the green. I hit an iron. There is a hazard to the right. I tried to hit out of the hazard, but had to take a drop.”
Alexander knew she had to regroup after taking the triple.
“I had to forget about it,” said Alexander, who rallied for a par on the next hole. “After the par, I felt in control. I knew I had to play my best holes. The course was playing pretty easy today.”
Alexander parred out the final four holes to come back in 5-over 41.
Alexander finished with 10 pars, one birdie, six bogeys and the one triple bogey.
“My tee ball was actually good today, and I had no 3-putts,” Alexander said of her game.
Alexander admitted playing as the returning champion did get to her.
“I thought I’d be in the 70s today. I let the pressure get to me,” said Alexander. “I put a lot of my pressure on myself. I need to learn how to relax and not be scared of disappointment.
“You can’t win every time. There’s always next time.”
After section matches today and Wednesday, Alexander returns to action in a couple weeks at Tom’s Run.
“I’ll be a different player. I have a good feel for the course. I feel good about my game,” said Alexander.
Jefferson-Morgan coach John Curtis marshalled two groups behind Alexander, so he didn’t get to see her play.
“I know there were a lot of girls that had a bad hole there,” said Curtis. “I knew if she played steady, she’d be okay.”
Central Valley had the top three finishers in Class AA. Macky Fouse won the title with a 2-over 75, while teammates Marissa Sudar and Maddy McDaniel both shot 77.
Greensburg Central Catholic’s Olivia Zambruno, from Mount Pleasant, finished a stroke behind Alexander. Freeport’s Audrey Clawson (83) and Neshannock’s Marissa Kirkwood (85) also advanced to the state regional.
Canon-McMillan’s Lauren Waller won the Class AAA title with a 75. Peter Township’s Mia Kness (80), North Allegheny’s Megan Leto (81), Hampton’s Marissa Balish (81), Upper St. Clair’s Melissa Kearney (82), Mars’ Bridget Merten (82), and Gateway’s Johnna Beehner (84) also qualified in Class AAA.