Showing you belong
Mustangs’ Smith finishes as runner-up at TriCADA tournament
BEALLSVILLE — Kayden Smith knew he had some tough competition ahead of him Friday morning in the TriCADA Golf Tournament at Nemacolin Country Club, but the Laurel Highlands senior didn’t allow that to intimidate him in finishing as runner-up in the annual event.
Smith shot a two-over-par 74 after he carded an even-par of 38 on the front nine and shot 36 on the back.
Peters Township had a “setback” in last season’s TriCADA, as the seven-time WPIAL team champions who won a state team title in 2023, were second to South Fayette in an event they normally dominate.
The Indians returned to the top of the mountain in the TriCADA on Friday with a score of 376, which bested second-place Canon-McMillan (412) by 36 strokes. Trinity finished third overall and among Class 3A schools with 414 strokes.
Peters Township had a second squad play the par 72, 6,307-yard course, and the PT White team carded 415 for fourth place. The Indians’ JV squad outscored all the teams in Class 2A.
Charleroi won the Class 2A team championship after shooting 423. Avella was second (427) and McGuffey (429) was third.
Peters Township Red averaged a score of 75.2 among its top five, which included first-time TriCADA champion Caden Benson, who carded a 72 to finish at even-par.
The scores weren’t expected to be low, as sloppy playing conditions due to intermittent rain showers hindered play.
Smith wasn’t too concerned with the weather, as he played the final round of the C. Harper Fayette Open on Aug. 2 at South Union Township Municipal Golf Course amid unfavorable weather conditions that caused two delays. He also understands that everyone has to overcome the same situation.
Smith finished last year’s TriCADA tournament in a tie for 16th place after shooting an 80.
“The conditions weren’t too bad,” Smith said. “The rain came and went, but it wasn’t too hard. The greens didn’t get puddles on them and there weren’t big mud puddles out there. It was definitely much better than the final round of the Fayette Open. I do play at this course a good bit. They are very nice people here.”
The Mustangs finished with a team score of 430 to place sixth among Class 3A schools. Laurel Highlands opens Section 2-3A play against Connellsville on Monday at South Union Township Municipal Golf Course. The first group is set to tee-off at 3 p.m.
“The tee balls were good,” Smith said. “Mentally, I was just telling myself to keep the ball straight. I knew if I could hit fairways and greens, I would have a decent round.”
Benson, a junior, went out with a 39 on the front nine, but came back with a one-under par 33 on the back to win the title over Smith by two strokes.
Benson wasn’t pleased with his performance last year, but he was glad to carry over his momentum from the Indians’ team tryouts to a victory, despite sloppy playing conditions, as intermittent rain showers hindered play.
“I didn’t play great last year,” Benson said. “I shot an 81, so it was nice to finish nine strokes better this year. The greens were kind of fast for how light it was, and even though I am a member here, I’ve never seen most of these pins, so it was pretty tough.
“I believe my low round at this course is 70, so I played it pretty well considering the rain and the wet course. We had tryouts the last four days, and I played pretty good in those, so I just had to bring the momentum into today.”
Following Smith and Trinity’s Gavin Bricker (75), was the Indians’ Tyler Ondrejko, who finished fourth at the TriCADA for the second year in a row. Ondrejko also shot 75, but Bricker won third place on a scorecard playoff.
Ondrejko believes he has improved each year with his play at TriCADA, and the senior was glad for he and his teammates to return to the top of the mountain in the TriCADA.
“We try to go into every tournament and match looking to win, so we weren’t stressing about not winning this event last year,” Ondrejko said. “I am happy we were able to win this year because I am a senior. I enjoy playing these 18-hole events because they get you ready for the playoffs. It is tough to make the team at Peters Township, especially the varsity squad, so you have to keep grinding. I am a member here so I try to get out here and play as much as I can.”
Peters Township will compete in the Jerry Roman Memorial Chairman’s Cup on Monday at Cedarbrook Golf Course prior to opening Section 5-3A play on Thursday against Baldwin at Valley Brook Country Club.
Kuhn works to have his team play in as many 18-hole events as possible, but section matches in the regular season are limited to nine holes, but Ondrejko understands all teams are required to play a round of nine in the regular season.
“You have to adjust a little to playing nine holes, but it’s kind of the same through process,” Ondrejko said. “You try to go in and shoot your best round, and understand that every hole is different. You have to keep going because once golf season begins, we don’t really stop until it’s over. Other sports have breaks during the season, but golf just goes.”
Ondrejko hopes his momentum from the TriCADA carries over for a fine senior season, as he hopes to play golf at the collegiate level.
Fellow Peters Township senior Jackson Baxter followed Ondrejko with a fifth-place finish after shooting 76. Baxter beat teammate Kaden Holleran, Carmichaels’ Eli Hastings, Avella’s Tristan Davis and Chartiers-Houston’s JoJo Jaskulski for the places six-nine on a scorecard playoff.
McGuffey’s Josh Rusimel rounded out the top 10 after firing a 76.
Baxter shot the low-round on the front nine at 1-under before finishing at 39 on the back.
“I didn’t play my best in this event last year, so I am glad to do well as a senior,” Baxter said. “It is a great feeling to make the varsity squad at Peters Township because it is tough to do. I played with a group from Canon-McMillan, South Fayette and Trinity, which was kind of neat because they are all schools who are close by. I really didn’t know them, but they were nice people and we talked a lot, got along and that’s all that matters.”
Holleran’s score in last year’s TriCADA wasn’t used, which made Friday’s finish even more special for the junior.
“Being that my score was thrown out last year, I am pleased with the progress I’ve made,” Hollaren said. “The conditions weren’t ideal, but you kind of have to expect that in Southwestern Pennsylvania. I played a pretty smooth round. The putts weren’t really falling to start my round, but I was able to avoid the bunkers.”
Hollaren and his teammates, including Camden Reyes, who had a 77 to finish just outside the top 10, were happy with their play, but they are well aware of what a golf course can do to someone’s ego.
“This is a good way to start the season, but we can’t get too far ahead of ourselves because golf is a humbling game,” Hollaren said. “I am a member here at the club, so I play as much as I can here. I believe my low round is a 72, so I can always improve.”
Brownsville’s Ava Rohland and South Fayette’s Hudson Vennum finished in a tie for 12th as both carded 78s.
Frazier was led in scoring by Caden Biddle, who shot an 80. Jefferson-Morgan’s Dominic Sowden finished at 84. Matt Eisiminger paced Waynesburg Central with an 85.
Uniontown’s Elim Martin finished with an 88 and Albert Gallatin’s Clay Smith came in with a 92.
Beth-Center’s Austin Kurowski also carded an 88. Mapletown had one representative in Dominic Kuis, who shot 106.