Barrish earns spot into PIAA golf championships
Jim Downey | Herald-Standard
Waynesburg Central’s Aaron Yorio reacts as his birdie putt slides past the hole on the 15th green during Monday’s PIAA Western Regional at Tom’s Run Golf Course in Blairsville.
Jim Downey | Herald-Standard
Bentworth’s Christian Sadler hits from the rough towards the 14th green at Tom’s Run Golf Course during Monday’s PIAA Western Regional.
Elizabeth Forward's Joe Klingensmith reacts as his birdie putt on the 15th green slides past the pin during Monday's PIAA Western Regional at Tom's Run Golf Course in Blairsville.
Elizabeth Forward's Joe Klingensmith hits his approach shot on the 15th hole at Tom's Run Golf Course during Monday's PIAA Western Regional.
Carmichaels' Matthew Barrish chips from just off the 16th green at Tom's Run Golf Course during Monday's PIAA Western Regional.
Carmichaels' Matt Barrish watches his putt on the 16th hole at Tom's Run Golf Course settle into the bottom of the cup during last year's PIAA Western Regional. Barrish, who is now a senior, won the section championship and finished sixth in the WPIAL and 11th in the PIAA in 2017.
Waynesburg Central's Aaron Yorio powers to the ball off the tee on the 16th hole at Tom's Run Golf Course during Monday's PIAA Western Regional.
BLAIRSVILLE — Matthew Barrish’s smile on the putting green was one of disbelief, relief and happiness.
The Carmichaels junior was practicing on the putting green thinking his round of 13-over 84 in the PIAA Western Regional qualifier at Tom’s Run Golf Course was going to put him into a playoff for a spot into next week’s PIAA Championships.
Barrish was one stroke off his assessment of the field’s finish, with his 84 (40-44) tying him for 17th place and earning him his first trip to the Class AA state final.
Barrish won’t be the only local boy in the field on Monday and Tuesday at Heritage Hills Golf Resort and Conference Center in York. Waynesburg Central’s Aaron Yorio and Bentworth’s Christian Sadler also qualified in Class AA, while Elizabeth Forward’s Joe Klingensmith advanced in Class AAA.
The aforementioned trio didn’t have nearly as much trepidation about making the cut as Barrish, though.
“I never would’ve thought that would’ve happened the way I played today,” Barrish said with a beaming smile.
Tossle caps, sweatsuits, slacks and gloves were the apparel of the day as Sunday’s 70-degree temperature gave way to a windy, crisp fall day.
“The weather was completely different than yesterday. The cold and the wind, but mostly the cold (was the most difficult to deal with). The wind was tough. It was switching around a good amount,” said Barrish.
Both the girls and boys played on the same course in a shotgun start, so Barrish opened on No. 9, a par-5, with a par.
Barrish had no birdies, but a couple double bogeys.
“I was shooting the best score I could shoot,” Barrish said of the regional.
Now, he’s off to his first state final.
“I’m going to try to finish as high as I can and work forward towards next year,” said Barrish with another smile on his face.
Klingensmith, a senior, will also be playing in his first PIAA Class AAA final after he tied for sixth with a 5-over 76 (36-40).
“I was rolling pretty steady at one point,” said Klingensmith, who started on No. 3. “Then, on No. 12, I had a 55-yard shot to five feet and 3-putted.”
Klingensmith finished with two double bogeys and three birdies.
“I played alright. I was hitting some terrible shots early. I had two 3-putts,” said Klingensmith. “I didn’t play great, but I played solid. I had a couple of dumb shots.”
As for making his first state final, Klingensmith added, “I can’t beat it. I feel real good right now. I’ll tweak a couple things and be a lot better.”
Yorio returns to the Class AA final after he tied for ninth with a 79 (38-41).
Yorio opened on No. 7, a favorable starting home.
“I does matter what hole you start on. I liked it. It was wide open. I spray a little bit,” said Yorio.
The weather did affect Yorio.
“A little physically, but more mentally on my thinking,” Yorio said of the weather. “The ball was not traveling as far. I had to club up more.
“My goals was just to qualify. I thought 80 or below was good,” said Yorio.
Sadler felt he was going to be on the outside looking in after he finished with an 82. His score stood for 16th place, despite two penalty strokes.
One was for a lost ball and he called the second on himself when his ball moved after address on his approach shot on the 14th hole, just two holes from completing his round.
“I thought it was a birdie as soon as I hit it, but I had to go back to the tee and ended up with a double,” Sadler said of the lost ball.
Sadler wouldn’t use the weather for any of his woes or bad luck.
“I’d like to make excuses (because of the weather), but I’m the one swinging the club,” said Sadler. “I was 1-under through three holes and lipped out on No. 1 (his third hole).
“I had a bad tee shot on No. 3 and it snowballed from there.”
(For complete results go to piaa.org)