close

Colonials shoot way to county team title

By Jim Downey jdowney@heraldstandard.Com 5 min read
1 / 3

Connellsville's Nolan Porterfield chips onto the third green Friday during the Fayette Scholastic Open at Duck Hollow Golf Club.

2 / 3

John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard

Frazier’s Annika Erdely hits out of the sand on the eighth hole Friday during the Fayette Scholastic Open at Duck Hollow Golf Club. The senior earned all-county honors after finishing with an 86. See main story on B8 and notebook on B6.

3 / 3

John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard

Albert Gallatin’s Tanner Kutek putts out on the sixth green at Duck Hollow Golf Club during Friday’s Fayette Scholastic Open Golf Tournament. Kutek lost in a playoff to Laurel Highlands’ Johnathan Ek for the individual title, but helped AG claim the team championship.

There was a buzz at the Albert Gallatin table Friday afternoon after the conclusion of the annual Fayette Scholastic Open at Duck Hollow Golf Club.

Not the usual banter associated with the post-tournament dining of pizza and wings. No, instead the talk was how to get the word through the high school the Colonials were the newly-crowned county team golf champions.

Behind all-county performers Tanner Kutek and Cole Bogozi, the Colonials shot 430 as a team, easily outdistancing second-place Belle Vernon, who shot 442.

Kutek finished tied with Laurel Highlands’ Johnathan Ek atop the leaderboard with a 9-over 79, but Ek parred the first playoff hole for the individual title.

Bogozi tied Geibel Catholic’s Anthony Lovat for sixth at 84.

Seth Goletz carded an 87, and Alex Arnold and Tom Victor both shot 90 to round out the scoring for the Colonials.

Southmoreland was third overall and won the small school team title with a 447.

GIRL POWER: Although just a freshman, Uniontown’s Danae Rugola earned all-county honors with a 12-over 82.

Frazier senior Annika Erdely earned all-county accolades for the second year in a row with an 86, and Laurel Highlands sophomore Olivia Soom was tied for 17th at 89 to give the young ladies another strong showing in the county tournament.

Rugola, as with most golfers when they review their round, was disappointed with her round.

“It was a pretty bad 82. I could’ve done so much better,” said Rugola. “I wanted to try to better than an 82.”

Rugola has played tournament golf in her young career, but not so often against the boys.

“I was nervous on the first hole, but I was excited, too,” said Rogula, who played No. 2 for the Red Raiders. “I liked it. It was fun.”

Individual section matches and possible team playoff matches aside, the county tournament marked the last time Erdely would play against the guys.

“The was my last chance to be a girl beating all the boys in Fayette County,” said a smiling Erdely. “I still like to beat all the boys. They see a little, short girl walk up to the tee and they don’t expect it.”

As for how she played, Erdely said, “The back (nine) was worse than the front. I really don’t know why. The front was okay. It could be worse.”

“I was safe off the tee. My irons were really strong. My short game always need work,” said Erdely. “On the greens, I was reading breaks that weren’t there. Some holes, there was a lot of slope, but on the next hole, there wasn’t. The breaks varied from hole to hole.”

EVERYONE REPRESENTED: For the first time in the past few years, all seven county schools, plus the two county “part-time” schools, Southmoreland and Belle Vernon, fielded full teams for the tournament.

And, seven of the nine schools had at least one player earn all-county honors.

Laurel Highlands senior Jarrod Sutton was all-county last year and grabbed one of the final spots this year after shooting an 86.

“I was here to play my best,” said Sutton. “I’d have a double bogey, then par, then get another double bogey and par.

“It was a struggle all day.”

Belle Vernon’s Matt Dawson finished alone in fourth with an 81, one stroke behind teammate Deven Judy.

Dawson is fighting to earn a spot in the top six for the Leopards.

“I played pretty well today. I putted the ball well and I made my close putts,” said Dawson. “I think this puts me closer (to a spot in the starting lineup). It gives me more confidence.”

Lovat earned all-county honors with an 84, becoming the first golfer from Geibel Catholic to do so in a while.

“It could’ve been so much better than an 84,” said Lovat. “But, I was almost 20 strokes better than last year. It’s such a big improvement.

“Shooting an 85 was my goal. I figured 85 would be a good top 10 score.”

Lovat said his play around the greens was the difference for him.

“I chipped really well. Chipping saved me,” said Lovat. “I was scrambling today.”

ON THE REBOUND: Southmoreland sophomore Josh Redding rebounded from an atrocious second hole to earn all-county honors with an 85.

“I had a 10 on No. 2. I hit through the fairway twice,” explained Redding.

Redding salvaged his round on the greens.

“My putter was working. I was putting very well,” said Redding.

TIME TO GET UNDERWAY: Section play begins Monday for most of the area’s 14 boys golf teams and lone girls team at Southmoreland.

The Scotties jump right into action on the road at Norvelt Golf Club against rival Mount Pleasant. Redding believes the good start in the county tournament will carry over to Monday’s match.

“It builds a lot of confidence,” said Redding, who belongs at Norvelt. “I think that (play in the county tournament) helps a lot. It takes a lot of pressure off.

“Mount Pleasant is a big rivalry. I think last year was the first time we’ve every beat them.”

CUSTOMER LOGIN

If you have an account and are registered for online access, sign in with your email address and password below.

NEW CUSTOMERS/UNREGISTERED ACCOUNTS

Never been a subscriber and want to subscribe, click the Subscribe button below.

Starting at $4.79/week.

Subscribe Today