Laskey gets first win as collegian
It wasn’t easy and maybe that’s what made Harison Laskey’s first tournament victory as a college golfer so special.
The freshman from Laurel Highlands had a one-shot lead after 18 holes of the Mercyhurst University Spring Invitational at Lake View Country Club North East, Mercyhurst’s home course.
“It was a solid round of golf: 14 pars, 2 birdies, 2 bogeys,” he said. “I didn’t make a lot of putts, it was just a solid round of competitive golf.”
Things didn’t come quite as easily in the second round as he went four-over par on the par threes and finished with a 76. Laskey didn’t know exactly where he stood in the tournament until all players were in.
He found out Gannon’s Matt Barto had made a birdie on his final hole to force a playoff.
The two went to the 18th tee and sent a rocket down the middle of the fairway. Barto’s tee shot finished 50 yards behind Laskey’s and Laskey took advantage of that length. He found the green with his approach, Barto bunkered his and couldn’t get up and down.
Laskey two-putted for the par and win.
“My game had started to come around before that tournament, maybe because it wasn’t 30 degrees and snowing,” he laughed. “I started driving the ball and making eight-foot putts.”
Laskey, who’s majoring in finance with a minor in political science, was relieved to have gotten his first college win under his belt and is now looking forward to the NCAA Division II regionals in a week and has a hopeful eye toward making the NCAA championships in Denver.
“It’s humbling, it really is,” he said. “I was relieved and then to get that win in our home tournament, that was really cool.”
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Congratulations are also in order for Waynesburg native Rachel Rohanna, who’ll be inducted into the WPIAL Hall of Fame in June.
She had a great high school career, was outstanding collegiately at Ohio State and is on her way to establishing a career in professional golf.
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Great line by David Feherty this week. Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler, Smylie Kaufman and Justin Thomas spent the week frolicking in the sun in Bermuda and have been posting very funny videos and pictures.
One of those was a bare-chested Spieth doing a Feherty imitation and it was actually quite good.
Feherty’s response on Twitter: “If Jordan’s on-course wardrobe becomes standard issue for me and (Roger) Maltbie, it’s game over.”
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Maybe I was wrong and we might see Tiger Woods at Oakmont in less than two months.
Golf Channel’s Tim Rosaforte reported this week that Woods might return to the PGA Tour as early as the Wells Fargo Championship in a couple of weeks at Quail Hollow Golf Club in Charlotte.
He showed up this week at a big junior tournament at Sage Valley not far from Augusta and put on a clinic, hitting all of his clubs well and wowing the youngsters.
But as we’ve seen previously, hitting balls well on the range and hitting them in competition are two different things. Woods hasn’t played since August, meaning that three-time repaired back hasn’t been put to the test.
If he does enter the U.S. Open, he won’t be a factor.
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The USGA will hold its traditional Media Day Monday at Oakmont with a morning informational session, lunch and then an afternoon round on the historic course for the media.
In the morning, while officials speak to the media, a golf competition will be taking place.
Jerome Bettis and Ben Roethlisberger will captain a pair of football teams that will battle for bragging rights.
Bettis will lead a team of Penn State players: Shane Conlan, Chris Bahr, Mark Battaglia and Matt Bahr (who will not play).
Roethlisberger will captain a Pitt team of Jim Covert, Troy Benson, Tony Recchia.
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If you have an interesting story about your club or course or an individual who has done something special, let me know. Send your story ideas to mike.dudurich@gmail.com.