Bradford’s Mitch Faulkner and Matt Moonan enter today’s PIAA West Regional golf championships with different levels of experience, but share a similar goal.
Of the 22 Class AAA boys golfers at Tom’s Run Golf Course in Blairsville, 12 will advance to the state championships, with the pair of Owl juniors hoping to be among that group.
Faulkner, the two-time defending District 9 championship, is making his third trip to regionals, while Moonan, who qualified via a playoff at districts, is embarking on his first.
“Mitch has done a little better each time and handled the pressure well. Now it’s about performing at a high level in order to make it to the next level,” said Bradford coach Travis Faulkner. “Matt will do fine with the pressure, it’s just a matter of getting used to a new course.”
The pair went down on Saturday to take part in a practice round, and coach Faulkner feels that the long 6,598-yard course will play to the advantage of both.
“They’re both long hitters and have had the best average on par 5s on the team this year,” he said. “They hit the ball far and are able to hit it straight with their woods. It’s just a matter of them taking advantage of it.”
Play will get under way at 9 a.m. today, with Faulkner teeing off on the first hole as part of the 1A group, or what could be referred to as the “district champions group.”
He will be paired with District 6 champion Isaac Wood of Hollidaysburg (whom Faulkner beat by 15 strokes at the District 6, 9, 10 team sub-regional Friday at Treasure Lake), District 7 champion Anthony Cordaro of Fox Chapel and District 10 champion Nate Sandberg of Warren.
Moonan, meanwhile, will be part of group 1B, teeing off behind his teammate in a group with District 8 champion Joe Doubt of Carrick, District 7 runner-up Kyle Grube of Indiana and District 10 runner-up Ryan Podufal of Cathedral Prep.
“It will be nice, because I’m going to kind of go in between, behind Mitch and ahead of Matt,” coach Faulkner said.
Both golfers have prepared to the best of their ability and are anxious to get going.
“They’re loose, relaxed and ready to go,” coach Faulkner said.
Moving to the Class AA boys, the top 22 of the 44 player field will advance to states.
There is a distinctive Ridgway feel to the event, with three Elkers — Mitchell Stark, Nick Simon and District 9 champion Josh Roselli in the field.
Roselli, like Faulkner, will be part of a district champions group that includes District 7’s Chris Tanabe of Quaker Valley, District 6’s Garrett Bastardi of Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy and District 10’s Bill Colbert of Hickory, starting on hole five.
Stark will be paired with Eric Maginnis (Titusville), Gabe Seymour (Central Cambria) and Luke Stultz (Chestnut Ridge) starting on hole eight, while Simon’s group includes Austin Lis (Burgettstown), Tom Pakulski (Fairview) and Collin Seymour (Central Cambria) and will begin play on hole 17.
Two other local golfers, D-9 runner-up Mitchell Struble of Elk County Catholic and D-9’s number five finisher, J.T. Maynard of Coudersport are also among the group looking to make it to states.
Struble will start on hole six with Evan Stevens (Conemaugh Township), Wes Keeling (South Fayette) and Matt McCord (Titusville).
Maynard, meanwhile, will start on hole 9 with Ryan Koenig (Eden Christian), Jacob VanSlyke (Harbor Creek) and Adam Osborne (Bellwood-Antis).
