Red Raiders, Leopards advance to WPIAL team golf final

The Belle Vernon boys were looking for a second chance, while Uniontown sought to make program history when they took to Pleasant Valley Golf Club Tuesday morning in the WPIAL Class AA team golf championship semifinals.
The Leopards will have the chance at redemption and the Red Raiders just moved on with both teams advancing to the WPIAL team championship Thursday at Cedarbrook Golf Course’s Gold course.
Belle Vernon finished first with a team total of 407. South Park placed second with a score of 410 and Uniontown was third with a total of 413.
“It was a grind, for sure,” said Belle Vernon coach Melvin Gouker. “I was expecting a lot lower. Some of the guys stepped up.”
Rogan Maloney finished with 86, but he closed out the final holes not to drop more strokes.
“Rogan was 16-over after 15, but he parred out. He got in and helped us out,” said Gouker.
Jordan Mocello led the way with 76. Jack Edwards shot 78.
“I talked with Jack at the turn and he turned it on. He almost birdied out,” praised Gouker.
Seth Tomalski shot 82 and John Bellissimo finished with 85. Trevor Kovatch’s 93 was not used.
The Leopards lost a playoff last year for a berth into the state tournament. Now, the return to the same site, Cedarbrook Golf Course, their home course, for another opportunity for a shot at states.
“We are going back home. Losing in sudden death was in the back of our minds all season. They wanted to go back home,” said Gouker.
“This is the first time Uniontown is going to the final as a team,” said Uniontown golf coach Aaron Scott. “I told them just go out and have fun.
“If we shot under 420, I thought we’d have a chance. This is the lowest we’ve shot as a team in a while.”
It helped the semifinal was at Pleasant Valley.
“Our guys are comfortable here. It’s familiar. All the seniors and juniors played Connellsville here, and we played Geibel here,” said Scott.
Logan Voytish led the way for the Red Raiders with 76, despite a gimpy ankle and a sliced finger suffered when he was dressing a deer last weekend. His highlight hole was the ninth, just missing an eagle putt and settling for a tap-in birdie.
Wade Brugger also broke 80 with 79.
“We had two guys in the 70s. That helped,” said Scott.
Scott lauded the play of the remainder of the squad who all found a way to help the cause. Colton Mathias shot 87, Brody Schiffbauer carded 81 and Greg Fox finished with 90.
“Colton was 9-over after three holes. He finished 12-over after nine and 41 on the back,” said Scott. “Brody shot 81 after he shot 39 (on his front nine). He eagled No. 16.”
The result was a big turnaround from last year at Pleasant Valley.
“We shot 442 last year. Everyone is back, but, as a team, we’re better,” said Scott.
Scott mentioned the message he had to his team.
“Our goal was to just move on, and we’re moving on. We have a lot of hunters. We’re hunting with golf problems,” said Scott, adding, “(Winning the championship), that would be a miracle like the 1980 U.S. hockey team.”
Carmichaels finished fifth with a team score of 429. Mason Lapana (77), Liam Lohr (80), Dustin Hastings (85), Dom Colarusso (90), and Patrick Holaren (97) scored for the Mikes.
Waynesburg Central was eighth with 452. Braden Benke (88), Chase Phillips (91), Derek Turcheck (89), Joe Hirsch (92), and Aiden Titus (92) posted scores for the Raiders.
Connellsville and Laurel Highlands did not fare so well in the Class AAA semifinal at Duck Hollow Golf Club.
The Mustangs placed eighth with a team scored of 442, while the Falcons finished ninth with a score of 457.
Austin Koposko was the low man for Laurel Highlands with 82. Colin Crawford (88), Jaden Ringer (88), Kayden Smith (94), and Connor Kalich (90) also counted in the final score. Hunter Bosley’s 100 was not used.
Ethan Porreca led the way for Connellsville with a 79. Eli Armstrong (94), Cooper Gray (102), Derek Routzahn (95), and Matt Firestone (87) closed out the scoring. Christian Burd’s 112 wasn’t used.
North Allegheny finished first with 391. Fox Chapel (398) and South Fayette (400) also secured one of the three berths into the final.