Erdely, Shea qualify for PIAA golf finals
Last year as a junior, Frazier’s Annika Erdely shot 93 at Chestnut Ridge in Blairsville and finished 12th, missing the final berth into the PIAA Golf Championships by three strokes.
Fast forward to Monday’s PIAA Class AA Western Regional and Erdely shot 93 for the second straight year. This time, though, the senior finished tied sixth to earn a berth into the state championship.
Erdely will have company at the state championships with Carmichaels’ Liam Shea finishing tied for ninth in the boys Class AA regional with an 8-over 80 and the Zambruno sisters, Olivia and Abby, from Greensburg Central Catholic and Bullskin Township. Olivia finished second with a 4-over76, while Abby tied with Erdely.
The WPIAL did well with 6-of-7 girls advancing in both Class AAA and AA, and 11 boys from Class AA. Sewickley Academy’s Jason Li continued his stellar play with medalist honors after shooting a 3-over 75. Charleroi’s Mike Kondratik finished tied for 11th in the Class AA qualifier with an 81.
Erdely’s total included a 10 on No. 4, a par-5. Erdely wasn’t alone with issues on the hole with two more 10s and a couple 12s recorded on the hole.
“It’s a very narrow hole. I topped my tee shot into a little dip with cattails, so I had to hit again. Then I hit into another hazard and 3-putted,” explained Erdely.
Erdely had just one birdie, on No. 9, a par-5.
“It was not a pretty 93, but it served the purpose,” said Erdely. “If I putted better, but I had over 40 putts. I three-putted 10 greens. The pin placements were very tough. Sometimes I was so far away, there was no possible way to stop it close. It would roll 10 feet past the hole. Or, sometimes I would get a sidehill lie. I’d have 5 or 6 foot sidehill putts. I missed a lot.”
The issues she had on No. 4 aside, Erdely was not displeased with the way she hit the ball.
“I was hitting the ball great. I only hit two bad shots,” explained Erdely.
Erdely played through some snow during her practice round and the regional was delayed by an hour because of frost.
“The frost delay didn’t affect the way I played. I got to sleep in a little later,” said Erdely.
Erdely almost missed the tournament last year because of a wreck on Interstate 70. Her father wasn’t taking any chances this year, staying at the course’s hotel. Although she slept in a little, the delay did get Erdely thinking.
“I had too much time to think about messing up. I was a nervous wreck,” said Erdely. “This was my last shot to make it and I wanted it to be my first (trip to states). That was a pretty big thing on my mind.
“My first and last trip to states.”
Now, Erdely becomes the first Frazier golfer to participate in the state championship.
“It’s icing on the cake. Like my dad said earlier, it doesn’t matter what I shoot. I’m one of only 18 girls,” said Erdely.