PUNXSUTAWNEY — Back-to-back!
The Bradford High boys golf team captured its second-straight District 9 Class AAA team championship, beating Punxsutawney 344-361 Monday.
What made the feat even more impressive was that the Owls were able to beat Punxsy on their home course, the Punxsutawney Country Club.
“It’s exciting, especially considering this is the second year in a row,” said Bradford coach Travis Faulkner. “Going into their home course I was a little worried, but the kids played good rounds, kept their heads and didn’t let anything bother them and that’s what they needed to do.”
Leading the way was junior Mitch Faulkner.
Faulkner. the defending D-9 Class AAA individual champion, put an impressive down payment on another title, shooting a 77, good enough for a six-shot lead over Brandon Orsich of Clearfield and Logan Reed of Punxsutawney, who each shot 83s.
“He’s actually in the same spot he was last year with a six-shot advantage going into day two,” noted coach Faulkner. “He’s feeling confident. He doesn’t let other players and what they’re shooting bother him.”
Overall, coach Faulkner noted that the course played tough.
“You have to be precise out here,” he said. “There are some bad spots on the course and the greens are really fast and I know the kids were having some difficulty with it. But it’s a beautiful course and it was a great day.”
Matt Moonan followed for the Owls shooting an 87.
“Matt’s four shots off of being in the top two and advancing to regionals,” coach Faulkner said. “He was a little disappointed with a couple of his shots and he’s going to make some changes in terms of club selection. I think that’s really going to help him.”
The second-round of individual play will be Saturday, with the top two advancing to Toms Run Golf Course in Blairsville for the West Regional.
Also for the Owls, Brayden Snyder and Evan Piganelli both shots 90s.
“Brayden was on our 2012 districts team and Evan was last year, so it was nice to have their experience,” noted Faulkner. “They didn’t shoot the rounds they wanted to, but came up big by beating the Punxsy guys they were playing against.”
The Owls also advance to the West Regional team play, for which a site and time have yet to be determined.
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In Class AA boys action, Ridgway took home the team title with a total of 337, edging Elk County Catholic by 15 strokes.
Josh Roselli led the Elkers with an 80, but its Clarion’s Jared Bish who holds a four-shot lead in individual play after carding a 76.
Coudersport’s J.T. Maynard is nine shots off the pace after shooting an 85, good enough for a tie for fourth.
Just missing the cut at 90 was Cameron County’s Paul Etchepare with a 92.
Leading Kane was Trace Gordon with a 96, while Tyler Blankenship shot a 97 for the Wolves, Kent Costello a 98 for Oswayo Valley, Kent Wilkinson 100 for Coudersport, Brian Shupe 104 for Cameron County and Jacob Amster 108 for Smethport.
Individual scoring follows:
Individual
Class AAA (Top 6)
1. Mitch Faulkner (Bradford) 77; T-2. Brandon Orsich (Clearfield) 83,; T-2. Logan Reed (Punxsutawney) 83; 4. Matt Moonan (Bradford) 87; 5. Beau Shepard (DuBois) 89; 6. Austin Milton (Punxsutawney) 95
Class AA (Top 14)
1. Jared Bish (Clarion) 76; T-2. Mitchell Struble (Elk County Catholic) 80; T-2. Josh Roselli (Ridgway) 80; T-4. J.T. Maynard (Coudersport) 85; T-4. Mitchell Stark (Ridgway) 85; T-6. T.J. Schlimm (Ridgway) 87; T-6. Nick Simon (Ridgway) 87; 8. Nate Burgeson (Ridgway) 87; T-9. Jacob McLaughlin (Brookville) 88; T-9. Derek Lauer (Clarion) 88; T-11. Noah Morgan (A-C Valley) 89; T-11. Corey Carr (Brockway) 89; T-13. Danny Sayers (DuBois Central Catholic) 90; T-13. Drew Meyer (Elk County Catholic) 90
