Sep 25, 2024 By Jim Downey 4 min read

Belle Vernon’s Jordan Mocello was on the outside looking in when he finished his round Tuesday in the WPIAL Class AAA Individual Golf Championship first round at Southpointe Golf Club.

Fortunately, the leaderboard slipped down to envelop Mocello into the top 36 and ties for a berth into next Tuesday’s first round at Oakmont Country Club.

Mocello was one of 11 golfers tied in 34th place at 11-over 83.

Mocello joins teammates Seth Tomalski (T-16, 79) and Jack Edwards (T-26, 82), and Connellsville’s Ethan Porreca (T-26, 82) in the finals. Fox Chapel’s Carson Kittsley leads after the first round at 1-over 73.

The scores carry over with the championship decided by a two-round total.

“I played the front nine in 6-over. That’s not terrible. I felt the back nine was easier and go bogey and double. I’m in the danger zone,” said Mocello. “After the double, I panicked a little bit. I walked real fast to the next tee box to get away from everyone and get my head together.

“I decided not to go for the par-5 (in two). Then, I just focused on squaring up my tee shot on the next hole, a par-3. I stuck it to 10 feet and made the putt.”

Mocello closed out par-par.

“I parred No. 18. That’s one of the hardest holes on the course. No. 18 was my best friend today because I knew it was a tough hole and I got par,” said Mocello.

Tomalski had a little more wiggle room than the other three golfers, playing the front in 39 and the back in 40.

“I two-putted a lot. I didn’t throw anything close,” said Tomalski.

Tomalski advanced to the finals at Oakmont two years ago as a sophomore. He admitted he had some early “senior last chance” concerns.

“I thought about (this being his last chance) a lot. I started bogey-bogey. I told myself I better get it going,” said Tomalski. “I got a par on No. 3 and told myself I’m locked in. Though, I scrambled.”

Edwards had a moment or two of trepidation as he closed out his round.

“I was close (to not advancing) for a little while,” said Edwards. “I was definitely concerned until around Nos. 6 and 7.

“I had a birdie on No. 9 and that eased my nerves. I got some momentum going onto the back.”

Edwards was sitting at 8-over heading into the final hole, but closed with a double bogey.

“I thought I was good to go at 8-over. I had to go and make it interesting,” said Edwards.

Porreca wasn’t feeling good about his chances as he worked his way onto the back nine. He went out in 6-over 42 and started the back with a double bogey and bogey.

“I was on the chopping block all day. It really was a tough course. It was a little scary,” said Porreca. “I just basically thought today to play the course and get up-and-down.

“These are the fastest greens I’ve ever played. You couldn’t stick irons on the greens. You weren’t rewarded for good shots.”

The senior settled down, though, with a par-birdie-birdie-birdie run to bring his score to 6-over.

“I went birdie on 13-14-15. That brought me back to life. Then, I had a bad 3-putt on No. 16,” said Porreca. “I had double on No. 17, so I lost all those birdies.”

Porreca said of his birdie run, “I have to make something happen. That’s when I picked it up. I told myself to just have fun.”

Porreca said the course was not set up for a left-handed golfer.

“A lot of out of bounds was left. Slice the ball and you’re done,” explained Porreca.

All the golfers are pleased to wrap up the district at one of the most famed courses in the world.

“I’m pretty happy I’m saying I’m going to Oakmont,” said Porreca. “I missed it by two last year.”

Tomalski said of his second trip to Oakmont, “Thank goodness (he qualified). The par-4s are long. The course is hard.”

“I played Oakmont my freshman year. I made states last year. It’s going to be a grind this year,” said Mocello.

Connellsville’s Eli Armstrong was in the top-36 mix, but missed the cut by one stroke at 84. Belle Vernon’s Donnie Croftcheck was also close at 85.