Young ladies show well in Fayette Scholastic Open
Uniontown’s Callahan Abel finished third in the Fayette Scholastic Open Friday, leading the charge of a strong contingent of young women who played in the county golf tournament hosted by Duck Hollow Golf Club.
Abel finished with a 6-over 78 and was one of four girls to finish in the top 20, including Frazier’s Annika Erdely who also earned all-county honors by finishing in 10th place.
Abel, a senior, was playing in her final county tournament.
“I’m usually scared, but not this year. (The way she played) definitely gives me a positive outlook for the season,” said Abel, adding proudly, “I’m the first girl captain (for the Red Raider golf team). We played well as a team.”
Erdely opened with a 5-over 40 on the front nine, but faltered a bit on the back with a 47 to finish with a 15-over 87. She shot a 95 in last year’s championship.
“The 40 should’ve been a 39. The front was solid. I’ll take a 40 any day. The back was a little rough,” said Erdely. “This year was a significant improvement from last year. This is the better score I’ve had ever.”
Erdely gave credit to her father for some of that improved play.
“My dad gave me swing thoughts. I put them on my arm and read them,” said Erdely as she displayed the writing on her forearm.
The Red Raiders’ Rylee Levander tied for 16th with a 92 and Frazier’s Emily Marshall was tied in 18th place with a 93.
ALL TIED UP: Tanner Kutek finished tied for third with Laurel Highlands’ Harison Laskey last year with a 79, and the Albert Gallatin junior and Laurel Highlands junior Jarred Sutton finished in a fourth-place tie Friday at 10-over 82.
“It was a bad 82. The front nine killed me,” said Kutek, who went out in 9-over 44 and came back in 1-over 38. “I managed to keep in the 30s in the back.”
“I was mentally strong on the back nine,” Kutek said of his improved play on the final nine holes. “I wasn’t in control of my clubs on the front nine. It was a rough front nine.”
Conversely, Sutton felt his score was a “good 82.”
“I was hitting my irons solid and I stayed away from big trouble,” said Sutton. “I was pretty steady. I had a lot of pars and a couple birdies.”
HOW ‘BOUT THEM ‘DORES: Belle Vernon won the team title with 430, four strokes ahead of Uniontown and six in front of Laurel Highlands.
Frazier showed themselves well, finishing fourth with a 440 for the best finish among the smaller schools. The Commodores had three all-county performances — Gregg Masneri, Josh Miller and Erdely — for the most in the eight-team field.
Masneri, a senior, earned his first all-county honors with a 12-over 84.
“It was good for a while. I had six one-putts in a row. I was feeling fantastic,” said Masneri of his round. “I’m pretty pumped.”
As a senior, Masneri was as concerned with the team’s performance as his own.
“I didn’t really care if I played well. I was pumped to see how the younger kids played,” said Masneri. “Hopefully, this will carry over to Monday’s round (the opening of section play). The whole team played well. It’s awesome.”
NEW KIDS ON THE COURSE: Uniontown’s Aaron Scott and Laurel Highlands’ Mike Smith both stepped down after the 2013 season after stellar careers.
Ryan Satovich, who played for Scott in his first three years on the job, takes over the Red Raiders, while Craig Hoone returns to the course with the Mustangs after a stint as the golf coach at Mapletown a few years ago.