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Rugola finishes fourth in WPIAL golf championship

By Jim Downey jdowney@heraldstandard.Com 3 min read
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Uniontown’s Adena Rugola hits from the tee on the seventh hole at Diamond Run Golf Club during Wednesday’s WPIAL Girls Class AAA Individual Golf Championship. Rugola finished in fourth place with an 80.

Jim Downey | Herald-Standard

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Jim Downey | Herald-Standard

Uniontown’s Adena Rugola watches her ball fall into the cup for a par on the eighth green at Diamond Run Golf Club in Wednesday’s WPIAL Girls Class AAA Individual Golf Championship.

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Jim Downey | Herald-Standard

Laurel Highlands’ Megan Joyce follows her tee shot on the ninth hole at Diamond Run Golf Club during Wednesday’s WPIAL Girls Class AAA Individual Golf Championship. Joyce finished tied for 14th with an 86.

SEWICKLEY — Adena Rugola endured anxious moments Wednesday afternoon after her bogey putt on the final hole lipped out, but the Uniontown sophomore was able to relax a few minutes later after she secured a medal at the WPIAL Class AAA Individual Golf Championship.

Rugola finished fourth with an 8-over 80 at Diamond Run Golf Club to earn a berth into the PIAA Western Regional at Tom’s Run Golf Course on Monday, Oct. 14.

North Allegheny’s Isabella Walter defeated Fox Chapel’s Nina Busch in a playoff for the gold medal after the two finished with 76.

Rugola had a troubling finish after she led or was close to the lead for most of the championship. She was tied for the lead at the turn with an even-par 35, including a birdie on the tough seventh hole.

Things turned around for Rugola on the 16th hole when a couple of penalties led to a quadruple bogey-8. She parred the next hole before closing with a double bogey-6.

“I hit two into the weeds on No. 16,” explained Rugola. I was playing for bogey on No. 18. I had 185 yards into a face wind (on her second shot) with my worst club. I’m putting for par and hoping for bogey. My bogey putt lipped out.”

As for her play on the other holes, Rugola said, “I played awesome. I played two holes awful. To be playing that good and then the quad.

“My driver, except for 16, was good. I was killing it.”

Rugola entered the championship with high expectations.

“My goal was to win it, hands down,” said Rugola. “My mind was still on winning it. If not win it, then I want to get past it and onto the next round.”

Laurel Highlands sophomore Megan Joyce finished 14th in her second district final with an 86. She had one birdie on each side, but was unable to get rolling.

“I couldn’t putt. I was hitting either six feet by or six feet short,” Joyce said of her woes on the green. “I was hitting them close on the green. I’d either three-putt or chip and two-putt.”

Belle Vernon junior Maria Kruppa finished 32nd in her first WPIAL championship with 108.

Peters Township’s Ella McRoberts won the bronze medal with a 79. Butler’s Paige Scott (81), Upper St. Clair’s Tori Slagle (81), and Moon’s Rhianna Firmstone (82) also medaled and advanced to the western regional.

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