High school golf section play set to get underway
The high school boys golf season tees up for the start of section play Monday with 13 of 14 local boys teams in action.
A pair of sections feature five area teams.
Section 2-3A includes Albert Gallatin, Belle Vernon, Connellsville, Laurel Highlands and Uniontown returning from 2025 with two new additions in Elizabeth Forward and Thomas Jefferson.
The Colonials visit the Red Raiders and the Falcons visit the Mustangs, both at South Union Township Municipal Golf Course (formerly Uniontown County Club). Also the defending section champion Leopards are at Thomas Jefferson.
Laurel Highlands coach Mike Revak pointed out a few changes in the section from a year ago that will make it much tougher.
“The last couple years Belle Vernon was the team to beat,” Revak said. “They graduated five seniors and their top two were excellent, Jordan Mocello and Jack Edwards. Jordan opted not to play college golf although he definitely could have and Edwards is playing at Fairmont State.
“With all Belle Vernon was losing we thought we might have a good chance to win the section this year. But they took out Ringgold and McKeesport and they put in Elizabeth Forward and Thomas Jefferson.
“Elizabeth Forward is led by the (Aaron) Didjunas kid who shoots under par all the time. Ty Hartman is a stud for Thomas Jefferson. Those two teams will be difficult to beat. But I like my team.”
As for the Mustangs’ section opener, Revak said, “We start against Connellsville and Braydon Rockwell, Brent Rockwell’s kid, is a very good freshman for them.”
Braydon Rockwell recently won the Junior Fayette Open against three other area high school golfers as part of the C. Harper Fayette Open.
Also sporting five area teams is Section 3-2A with Beth-Center, Brownsville Carmichaels, Jefferson-Morgan and Waynesburg Central, along with Bentworth and McGuffey.
The Rockets host Brownsville, Bentworth is at Waynesburg and McGuffey hosts Beth-Center. The Mikes play their first section match Wednesday at Brownsville.
In Section 2-2A, Mount Pleasant hosts Derry and Southmoreland hosts Burrell. The section also includes Greensburg Central Catholic, Jeannette and Ligonier Valley.
In Section 8-2A, Frazier is at West Mifflin and Geibel Catholic hosts Shady Side Academy. Also in the section are Charleroi, Seton LaSalle and Yough.
Girls section play began Friday.
Two area teams, Belle Vernon and Connellsville, are in Section 3-3A along with EF, Latrobe, Hempfield, Norwin and Penn-Trafford. Section 1-2A includes three local teams in Geibel Catholic, Mount Pleasant and Southmoreland, along wtih Deer Lakes, Greensburg Central Catholic, Ligonier Valley and Oakland Catholic.
Many area golfers took part in TriCADA Golf Tournament at Necacolin Country Club on Friday. Revak had his top six – seniors Kayden Smith, Ryan Revak and Dan O’Neal, sophomore Damon Revak, senior Aiden Milsom and junior Mason Cicci – slated to play. Ryan and Damon are the coach’s sons.
Smith, who had an impressive eighth-place finish at the C. Harper Fayette Open recently, claimed second place overall in the TriCADA event.
“We’re strong up top,” Mike Revak said. “We have a strong senior class.”
Laurel Highlands has some depth as well, according to Revak.
“We do have some freshmen coming up,” he pointed out. “Cole Dempsey is pretty good, he shot a 39 at practice. Jeremy Enslen’s son Jackson is pretty good.”
Jeremy Enslen claimed his ninth Fayette Open championship earlier this month.
“Also Danny Glover’s daughter (Sydney Glover) is a freshman who is playing well,” Revak said. “We have a couple sophomores that are up and coming so we’re hoping to keep building.”
Revak is entering his fourth season as Mustangs coach.
‘I’m enjoying it,” he said. “We’ve put a lot of time in on the range and we’re going to continue to do that 100 yards and in. I think that’s fundamental for these kids. And we’re working on the mental part of the game.
“It’s been fun to see their progress. Our first official practice at South Union on Aug. 10 we had 10 kids shoot 46 or under and that’s the first time that’s happened since I’ve been here. For high school golf, that’s pretty good. They’ve been working hard in the summer and it seems like it’s paying off.”