Gators, Colonials end season on winning note
Connellsville's Gavin Swink hits a tee shot during Wednesday's Section 2-AAA matches against Albert Gallatin and Laurel Highlands at Pleasant Valley Country Club.
Kelly Tunney | Herald-Standard
Albert Gallatin’s Tanner Kutek follows the ball after a tee shot during Wednesday’s Section 2-AAA match against Connellsville at Pleasant Valley Country Club.
Kelly Tunney | Herald-Standard
Frazier’s Annika Erdely follows her putt’s path during Wednesday’s Section 2-AA match at Pleasant Valley Country Club against Geibel Catholic.
Laurel Highlands' Johnathan Ek watches his tee shot at Pleasant Valley Country Club Wednesday afternoon during the Mustangs' Section 2-AAA match against Connellsville.
Albert Gallatin's Seth Goletz tees off during Wednesday's Section 2-AAA match at Pleasant Valley Country Club against Connellsville.
Connellsville's Zach Beneke hits a tee shot at Pleasant Valley Country Club during Wednesday's Section 2-AAA match against Albert Gallatin and Laurel Highlands.
BULLSKIN TWP. — Golfers from four of the five teams gathered at Pleasant Valley Country Club Wednesday afternoon were looking to end the season — and career — on a winning note.
Albert Gallatin and Geibel Catholic did just that as the Colonials defeated Connellsville, 209-218, in Section 2-AAA action, while the Gators beat Frazier, 237-250, in a Section 2-AA match.
The Falcons had a chance to earn a split and close the season with a victory, but lost a two-golfer, two-hole playoff to Laurel Highlands after the teams finished tied at 218.
Albert Gallatin finishes with a winning season, closing with a 7-5 section record and an overall mark of 8-5. The Falcons end the season at 4-8 in the section and 4-9 overall.
The Mustangs (5-5, 5-5) close the season this afternoon when they complete a suspended match against Uniontown before the finale against the Red Raiders.
Weather forced the triangular match between Connellsville and Albert Gallatin and Laurel Highlands.
The Colonials held the upperhand after the first two golfers were in, 83-85, while the Falcons had an 85-92 advantage against LH.
Albert Gallatin continued to pull away with the middle golfers, Seth Goletz and Charlie Fetzner, both shooting 41 for an 8-shot swing.
The Mustangs made up a lot of ground against the Falcons after Jarrod Sutton posted the low round of the afternoon, an even-par 37.
Sutton and Johnathan Ek, the Mustangs’ No. 1 man, went out against the Falcons’ top two golfers, Zach Beneke and Gavin Swink (both seniors), for the two-hole, stroke play playoff.
Sutton birdied No. 1 and Ek took a bogey, while Beneke had a six and Swink carded a bogey. Ek, Beneke and Swink all parred the second hole with Sutton taking a bogey to give the Mustangs a 17-19 playoff win.
The match was not only the final one of the season for Connellsville and Albert Gallatin, but for many of the golfers, as well.
Tanner Kutek, who shot a 42, has been a stalwart for the Colonials through much of his career.
“It’s too bad. It was a rough day It was tough on the greens,” Kutek said of his final high school golf match. “I had the same problem I had in the semifinals on Monday. I was consistent at bogey.”
Kutek reflected on his career with the Colonials.
“I’d say so. I think it was pretty successful,” said Kutek. “I had a good team around me and a good coach. It was a good four years.”
Ek, like Kutek, had problems reading the speed of the greens.
“The greens were slow like molasses. The fairways were soggy. There was no roll on drives,” said Ek.
Only a sophomore, Ek was hoping the team’s season will end on a winning note.
“We might as well go out with a bang,” said Ek. “I don’t want (the season) to be over. I want to help the seniors. They deserve a couple wins.”
Christie Seman was the first female golfer on Brent Rockwell’s squad when she went out for the Falcons four years ago and closed her career playing at No. 6 man with a 51.
“It’s sad, depressing,” Seman said of her final match. “The first day, it was very overwhelming with all the guys watching you.
“I got a lot better. (Golf) made me grow as a person.”
Frazier’s Annika Erdely will play in the WPIAL Class AA Girls Individual Golf Championships next Tuesday, so she was guaranteed another day on the course. But, the senior closed her match career against the Gators by sharing team medalist honors with fellow senior Mark Dillon at 10-over 47.
The Commodores finished with a 7-5 section record.
Erdely had the round of the season in Monday’s 240-242 win against the Gators at Linden Hall Golf Course when she tied a school record with a 1-under 36. Dillon shot a 44, while John-Luke Tlumack was the low man for Geibel with a 45.
“It didn’t hit me until halfway through (the round). I told Mark (Dillon) this is the last time we’re doing this,” said Erdely, who was presented flowers by her father after she finished her round. “But, I still have more golf. This was not my last hole, ever.”
As for the match, Erdely said, “The greens were really slow. I play here all the time. Anytime you are above the hole, you have to (watch the speed). I was very conservative all day. I look at this round today as a practice for the WPIAL finals. I hope I got all the bad out today.”
Geibel Catholic senior Steve Conko saved his best for last, carding not only the medalist round of 7-over 44, but recording the lowest score of his career.
“This is my best round ever,” said a smiling Conko. “I was driving the ball pretty well today. I had some putts that saved me.”
Conko said the final match of his career settled in as the team was leaving the school.
“It hit me today in school when we are getting ready to leave, this is the last time I’ll be going to Pleasant Valley for a match,” said Conko, adding, “It was a great way to end the season.”
The Gators’ Angelo Testa closed his first year as a coach.
“I had a lot of fun. The kids had fun, too,” said Testa, whose Gators finished with a 2-10 record.