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Redemption: One year after its near miss, Belle Vernon claims WPIAL AA golf team title

By Rob Burchianti rburchianti@heraldstandard.Com 4 min read
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Rob Burchianti | Herald-Standard

Belle Vernon coach Melvin Gouker (left) stands with his team after it was presented with the WPIAL Class AA boys golf team championship at Cedarbrook Golf Course’s Gold course on Thursday. The Leopards finished with a score of 417, five better than second-place Neshannock.

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Rob Burchianti | Herald-Standard

Uniontown’s Logan Voytish hits out of the sand trap on No. 9 during the WPIAL Class AA boys team golf championship on Thursday at Cedarbrook Golf Course’s Gold course.

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Photos: Rob Burchianti | Herald-Standard

Belle Vernon’s Seth Tomalski sinks a par putt on the eighth hole during the WPIAL Class AA boys team golf championship on Thursday at Cedarbrook Golf Course’s Gold course.

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Uniontown's Logan Voytish follows through on his tee shot on No. 9 during the WPIAL Class AA boys team golf championship on Thursday at Cedarbrook Golf Course's gold course.

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Belle Vernon's Trevor Kovatch watches his putt during the WPIAL Class AA boys team golf championship on Thursday at Cedarbrook Golf Course's Gold course.

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Belle Vernon's Seth Tomalski takes a divot as he hits an approach shot from the rough on the eighth hole during the WPIAL Class AA boys team golf championship on Thursday at Cedarbrook Golf Course's Gold course.

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Uniontown's Logan Voytish sinks a par putt on the ninth hole during the WPIAL Class AA boys team golf championship on Thursday at Cedarbrook Golf Course's Gold course.

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Belle Vernon's Seth Tomalski watches as Uniontown's Logan Voytish putts on the ninth green during the WPIAL Class AA boys golf team championships

BELLE VERNON — This time the Leopards got it done.

Belle Vernon came up tantalizingly close to winning the WPIAL Class AA boys team golf championship a year ago falling just one stroke short in a playoff with Sewickley Academy.

Thursday it was Belle Vernon’s time to celebrate after turning in a score of 417 to win the Class AA title that slipped through their grasp in 2022. Rogan Maloney shot a 7-over 79 on the Cedarbrook Golf Course’s Gold course to lead the way for the Leopards.

“I was in the playoff last year,” Maloney said. “This feels a lot better than last year. I’m very happy. We waited all year for this, happy to be able to pull it off.

“I just played solid golf today. I could’ve done better but I got it done and I’m just so happy.”

Belle Vernon finished 5 strokes ahead of Neshannock (422), with Mohawk and Quaker Valley tying for third at 431. Uniontown, making its first appearance in the WPIAL team final, placed fifth with a 453 and South Park was sixth at 466.

Jack Edwards wasn’t far behind Maloney with an 81 and Jordan Mocello shot an 85. Seth Tomalski and John Bellisimo both carded an 86. Trevor Kovatch had a 95 that was not used.

The Leopards’ first district championship qualifies them for the PIAA championship for the first time.

“Last year was our first WPIAL (final) appearance. Finishing runner-up was tough,” Belle Vernon coach Melvin Gouker said. “We got the job done today and that’s all that matters.

“I think the confidence level is way higher this year. The kid that actually missed the putt to send it to another hole last year (Mocello) came through big for us today. I talked to him with three holes to go. He needed to par out for us to have a good chance and he did that. He definitely redeemed himself today.

“They’re all hard workers. They came through today. Kudos to them.”

Tomalski wasn’t happy with his round when he came in.

“Front nine, really shaky. Back nine I tried to turn it around,” Tomalski said. “Just couldn’t get a groove, couldn’t get a flow. If I’d make a par, then I’d made a bogey or double. That was the whole day. I couldn’t hit a wedge shot. The simple things in golf you’ve got to do, I didn’t do it today. I did the same think last year.”

This year Tomalski and the Leopards wound up with a happy ending.

Logan Voytish led the Red Raiders with an 8-over 80 with Wade Brugger shooting an 86. Rounding out the scoring for Uniontown were Colton Mathias and Greg Fox both with 94 and Johnny VanSickle with a 99. Brody Schiffbauer’s 107 was not needed.

Voytish shot a 45 on the back nine which he played first but was 10 strokes better with a 35 coming in.

“I was quite shaky at the beginning,” Voytish said. “I figured to myself get as close to even as I can on the back nine. I ended up shooting a 45 on the first nine which is probably the worst nine I’ve had in a few years. I shot 35 on the back (second) nine. I had three birdies, two bogeys and the rest pars I think.

“My best shot of the day was on 17, I drove the green and missed an eagle putt by about an inch.”

The Red Raiders were pleased to be in the final.

“It’s a blessing we’re even here,” Voytish said. “My coach Aaron Scott looked at me when we were in the semifinals and said we need a miracle. I said well we’re going to try. We went out, had fun. After all the numbers were crunched, we ended up making it. Coach Scott told me it’s the first time the team’s done that.”

Peters Township won the Class AAA boys title with a score of 371, seven better than second-place Butler.

In the Class AA girls team championship, Mount Pleasant finished with a 403 as did Central Valley with both trailing perennial power Greensburg Central Catholic which won its ninth title, all in a row, with a 379.

Coach Ken Ivory’s Lady Vikings and the Lady Panthers were forced into a playoff to decide which would be the substitute representative with Central Valley taking that tiebreaker.

Emily Eutsey and Morgan Miller topped Mount Pleasant with each shooting a 98 on the par-71 Red Course. Gabby Kinneer shot a 101 and Allison Tepper had a 106. Brynlee Baluh’s 129 was not used.

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