Articles on the golf team's 2023 season from the Meadville Tribune:

Two Saegertown golfers qualify after latest match

All three PENNCREST schools competed in the Union City golf mega match Tuesday. Saegertown finished in second with a score of 386, Cambridge Springs fourth with 418 and Maplewood last with a 421 score.

Saegertown was led by Jon Grundy, who shot a score of 90 which tied Quinlan Magee and Morgan Greico of Union City for the lowest score of the day. Wyatt Zirkle also shot just 91 for the Panthers.

Both Zirkle (408 total score) and Grundy (433) have become automatic qualifiers for Region 3 with their final scores. They join Greico (431), Magee (450) and Trent Parkhurst (444) of Union City.

Saegertown narrowed out Union City with 23 season points, one ahead of Union City’s 22. The Panthers will play again on Thursday at the Wanango Golf Club. The start time of the match has yet to be announced.

Cambridge Springs will play again on Thursday at Union City at 9 a.m.

August 30,2023

Panthers take second at match

VENANGO — The Saegertown boys golf team hosted a quad match at Venango Valley Golf Course on Wednesday and took second.

Rocky Grove won the match with a 343 with each golfer shooting a sub-90 score.

Saegertown’s Wyatt Zirkle bested all golfers with a 73 and led the Panthers to a 361. Jon Grundy (86), Westin Baker (95) and Mason Allio (107) rounded out the scoring for Saegertown.

The Panthers will be in action again on Friday at Oakland Beach Golf Course against Conneaut.

August 25, 2023 Fall Preview

Humility the focus for Saegertown golf

By Owen Krepps

MEADVILLE TRIBUNE

Saegertown may have a solid golf team that has already won a couple of mega matches this season, but head coach Brian Hanley wants to keep his team humble, so that they can improve this season.

“I’m working on their humility,” said Hanley. “They are pretty sure of themselves and my job as a coach is to represent them with humbleness. Right now that is a 24/7 job for me.”

Returning are all-region golfers Jon Grundy and Wyatt Zirkle, who both now go at it without their respective brothers Joseph and Sully on the team.

“Jon and Wyatt are going to surprise some people. He (Wyatt) is not going to dual sport with football this year. So that will help him a lot. He hits the ball well.

“I have a few solid golfers, only one junior that came out and then five sophomores who will have to step up and help us with the loss of three seniors,” added Hanley.

With humbleness as their focus, Saegertown is still aiming for success.

“The goal is simple and that is to get the kids to continue to improve every week,” said Hanley. “Hopefully we can fight for the region title. But Lakeview won the district title last year and lost nobody so they are definitely the team to beat. Our biggest goal right now is to win the region.”

Saegertown will not have a girls team for the 2023 season.

August 23, 2023

HIGH SCHOOL GOLF

Victorious at Venango

Zirkle leads Saegertown to mega match win

MEADVILLE TRIBUNE

VENANGO — Saegertown fittingly won its own mega match which they hosted at the Venango Valley Golf Course on Tuesday.

The Panthers combined for a score of 356 with Wyatt Zirkle having quite the impressive day, scoring a 76 overall.

The next closest scorer to Zirkle was Union City’s Morgan Grieco, who scored 83.

Cambridge Springs took fourth in the match with an overall score of 407. Maplewood fell to last place with a 409 score. Garrett Dewey led Maplewood with a 91 score and Ian Anderson led Cambridge Springs with a score of 99.

All three PENNCREST schools will be back in action on Friday at Mount Hope Golf Course for the Maplewood mega match at 9 a.m.

SAEGERTOWN MEGA MATCH

x = does not count towards team score 

1st- Saegertown (356) Wyatt Zirkle 76 Jon Grundy 92 Ryder Bailey 89 Everett Gardner 99 Mason Allio 108 x Westin Baker 103 x 

2nd- Union City (364) Mogan Grieco 83 Trent Parkhurst 88 Ian Kinney 104 Gunlan Magee 89 Carter DeSimone 107 x Mason Wieczkowski 94 x 

3rd- Seneca (376) Klayton Komisarski 98 x Brayden Trimble 96 Clayton Dolph 94 Brayden Johnson 91 Kendall Yosten 95 Aidan Grove 113 x 

4th- Cambridge Springs (409) Ian Anderson 99 Brewster Brown 101 Seth Glenn 102 Brody Beck 107 Trent Dailey 111 x Hunter Rose 128 x 

5th- Maplewood Garrett Dewey- 91 Rachel Brunot- 100 Landyn Reynolds- 109 Avery Palotas- 109 Jillian Barker- 119 x Allanah Kelly- 143 x

August 17, 2023

HIGH SCHOOL GOLF

Putting Panthers

Panthers win Region 3 mega match

Saegertown had a team score of 350, just ahead of Union City with a 353. Maplewood was third with 395. Cambridge finished fifth with 409.

The Panthers had the top two scores of the day and none of their six golfers shot over 100. Wyatt Zirkle fired an 80 and Jon Grundy an 81 for the top two spots. Everett Gardner and Ryder Bailey shot a 91 and a 98, respectively. Mason Allio and Westin Baker finished with a 98 and a 99, though their scores did not count toward the team score.

For Maplewood, Garrett Dewey led the pack with a 94. Rachel Brunot followed with a 98. Landyn Reynolds and Colton Seeley shot 100 and 103, respectively. Avery Palotas fired a 114, which did not count toward the team total.

Cambridge Springs was led by Seth Glenn with a 90. Ian Anderson (92), Brewster Brown (97) and Hunter Rose (130) rounded out the scoring for the Blue Devils. Tysin Findlay (131) and Wesley Ryan (132) also competed for

Cambridge.

The next Region 3 mega match is Tuesday at Venango Valley Golf Course.

August 11,2023

Meadville places seventh at season opening golf tournament

MEADVILLE TRIBUNE

RANDOLPH TOWNSHIP — Meadville had a top-10 finish in Thursday’s Mt. Hope Golf Course Invitational hosted by Lakeview.

The Bulldogs finished seventh with a team score of 350. Phillip Pandolph (83), Alex Burgess and Chris Costa (90) each broke 90 on the day. Jake Friters shot a 93.

Conneaut was 14th with a score of 370. Robert Gowetski carded an 86 while Charlie Woods (93), Aiden Tyson (94) and Caiden Loucks (97) each broke 100.

Saegertown placed 17th with a 380. Wyatt Zirkle led with an 80, which also gave him the fifth best individual score. Jon Grundy carded an 84 for the Panthers.

Maplewood was 26th with a 422. Garrett Dewey posted his team’s best score (94).

Lakeview A won the tournament with a score of 323. Jackson Gadsby and Adam Snyder each carded a 77.

GOLF

September 19, 2023

Bulldogs take fourth at Marquette Invitational

WOODCOCK TOWNSHIP — The Meadville boys golf team took fourth place at the 2023 Marquette Invitational hosted at The Country Club on Tuesday.

Meadville shot a team score of 329. Warren won the contest (307) with Fairview (317) and Lakeview (320) taking second and third. Conneaut placed 12th (349), and Saegertown was 14th (358).

For the Bulldogs, Robert Mahoney was the best score with a 78. Alex Burgess (80), Philip Pandolph (84) and Jake Friters (87) also carded scores.

Maxx Feather led Conneaut with an 84. Right behind him was Robert Gowetski (85) and Caiden Loucks (86). Charlie Woods shot a 94.

Saegertown was paced by Wyatt Zirkle, who carded an 80. Jon Grundy shot an 84 with Ryder Bailey (96) and Spencer Keefer (98) rounding out the Panthers.

Warren’s Braddock Damore had the best score of the day with a fourunder- par 68. Leyton Hassenplug shot a 73 for North East and Lakeview’s Jackson Gadsby fired a 74.

Golf

October 3, 2023

HS Golf season ends for local players

MEADVILLE TRIBUNE

WOODCOCK TOWNSHIP — Four local golfers concluded their seasons at the second day of the District 10 boys and girls golf championships on Tuesday at The Country Club.

All four golfers competed in the second day of the individual tournament after qualifying on Monday and making the cut line.

In the Class 3A boys tournament, Meadville senior Alex Burgess fired an 87 on Tuesday for a two-day total of 166. He finished seventh overall.

Warrens’ Braddock Damore shot a 72 and a 76 for a 148 to win the tournament. He and Cathedral Prep’s Cooper Wierzchowksi (150) will advance to the state tournament at Penn State University on Oct. 16 and 17.

Rounding out the top eight were Warren’s Brady Berdine (151), Cathedral Prep’s Connor Laird (152), McDowell’s John Ferretti (155), Erie’s Eli Nicklas (161), Burgess and McDowell’s Bryce Peterson (171).

Meadville had two golfers, Brooke Hart and Kelsi Hefner, compete in the Class 3A girls tournament. Hart finished fifth with scores of 87 and 96 for a 183. Hefner shot a 102 on the first day and an 89 on Tuesday for a 191, which was sixth.

McDowell’s Alexis Marsh won the tournament and will compete for a state title later this month. McDowell’s Analise Wolf (164), Genelia Kang (172) and Ella Bickel (179) rounded out the top four.

In the Class 2A boys tourney, Saegertown’s Jon Grundy placed 12th after carding an 86 on Tuesday. He shot an 82 on Monday to qualify for the second day.

Grove City’s Isaac Allan won the tournament with a 151. The top eight, all of which advance to states, belonged to Lakeview’s Jackson Gadsby (153), Fairview’s Anthony Laboda (153), Franklin’s Ty Prince (155), Wilmington’s Santino Toscano (157), North East’s Leyton Hassenplug (161), West Middlesex’s Caden Bender (162) and Grove City’s Trent Nemec (163).

Hickory’s Sasha Petrochko won the Class 2A girls tournament with a 131. She shot a course record 64 on Monday and a 67 on Tuesday. Her and North East’s Anna Swan (142), West Middlesex’s Kate Sowers (147) and Hickory’s Luciana Masters (150) will advance to states.

Golf

October 2, 2023

DISTRICT 10 GOLF TOURNAMENT

Making the cut

Picture perfect weather leads to low scores at D-10 golf championships

By Alex Topor

MEADVILLE TRIBUNE

WOODCOCK TOWNSHIP — Several local golfers will walk back onto the course at The Country Club today for the second and final day of the individual at the District 10 Golf Tournament.

Monday, which included the first day of the individual tournament and the team tournament for both girls and boys in Class 2A and 3A, was just about as perfect of a day for golf you can ask for in October in northwestern Pennsylvania.

With ample sun and about 75 degrees with minimal wind, the course played firm and fit for low scores. Hickory’s Sasha Petrochko fired an 8-under par for a 64 and the new course record in the Class 2A portion of the event.

“Today was as nice as I can remember it and it showed with the scores toda,” Meadville head coach Fred Garvey said. “It was a little firm, but the greens were receptive. The course was in beautiful shape, as always, the Country Club and the staff here is amazing. I think we’re fortunate that we can have the tournament here.”

Also in Class 2A, the Saegertown boys team competed in the team portion of the tournament. The Panthers shot a 366 for fifth place.

“My No. 1 is usually about an 80-shooter and he had a 90. I was with him for a few holes today and he had a nine on No. 4. He struggled with some putting a bit,” Saegertown head coach Brian Hanley said. “All in all, the kids shot about their average so I am pleased. We had some sophomores get some experience and that will be crucial for next year.

Senior Jon Grundy led the way with an 82. Wyatt Zirkle (90), Ryder Bailey (95) and Mason Allio (99) rounded out the scoring.

“I think our best score this year was a 349,” Hanley said. “To come into districts on a tougher course with more nerves than normal, that’s (366) about what I thought we would shoot.”

Grundy’s 82 qualified him for the second round of the individual tournament. The cut line was set at 83.

Conneaut’s Maxx Feather and Robert Gowetski both missed the cut. Gowetski shot a 100 while Feather just missed it with an 84.

Lakeview’s Jackson Gadsby and Grove City’s Isaac Allan lead the field with a 74.

The top eight finishers in the field will play for a state title at Penn State’s Blue and White Courses on Oct. 16 and 17.

Grove City won the team title with a 325. Lakeview and Oil City tied for second with a 338. Fairview was fourth (342) In the girls Class 2A tournament, Maplewood’s Avery Palotas shot a 109. Hickory (213) won the team component with Fairview placing second (251).

In the girls Class 3A team tournament, McDowell edged Meadville 248-300.

Brooke Hart paced the Bulldogs with an 87. Kelsi Hefner (102) and Bella Ross (111) rounded out the team scores. Also competing for Meadville was Taylor Tidball and Cerese Litzinger who both shot a 122.

With the cut line at 115 for the individual tournament, Hart and Hefner will compete today. McDowell’s Analise Wolf is in the lead with a 79.

The winner will advance to the state tournament.

Meadville advanced one golfer to the second day of the Class 3A individual tournament. Alex Burgess shot a 79 and sits in eighth place. Robert Mahoney finished in ninth with an 81, but the cut line was set at 79 so he just missed the cut.

“Robert, I couldn’t be more proud of. I thought that a pretty dang good score. Probably a little high for him, but I wouldn’t think the cut was gonna be 79. He’s a junior so he will get to come back next yea. This was a good experience for him,” Garvey said. “They’re both wonderful young men, fantastic people and easy kids to root for.”

Braddock Damore, of Warren, leads with a 72. Warren also won the Class 3A tournament with a team score of 314.

Golf

October 2, 2023

Local golfers tee off at D-10 tournament today

By Alex Topor

MEADVILLE TRIBUNE

The 2023 District 10 boys and girls golf tournament opens today at The Country Club.

This year’s tournament will span over two days. Today, the boys and girls will each tee off at 10 a.m. with a shotgun start for the team tournament and first part of the individual tournament.

In Class 2A, the top 15 golfers and ties will qualify to play Tuesday for the second half of the individual tournament. In Class 3A, only the top eight golfers will advance to Day 2. The top four golfers after Tuesday in Class 2A girls and the top eight in boys will move on to states. In Class 3A, the top girl and the top two boys advance.

This year’s tournament will be different in that the boys and girls team tournaments will run simultaneously. In years past, the girls would play Thursday, the boys would play Friday, then the second day of individual play was Saturday.

The reason for change, according to Mike Ferry, District 10 golf representative and Country Club head golf professional, is two fold.

“The sub regional is Thursday and the teams have to be done before that. We have member events through September,” Ferry said. “The course is in great shape and has been the entire year. Tim (Hall), our superintendent, and staff have done a great job all year.”

The boys and girls team winners in both Class 2A and 3A will enter into the PIAA Western Subregional Championship at Treasure Lake Silver Course in DuBois on Thursday.

Ferry said the pace of play today should reflect post season golf.

“I am sure it won’t be a four hour round, but most of post season golf has been at least five hours,” Ferry said. “We will do our part to maintain pace to the best we can. If the kids play ready golf we will be fine.”

Some area coaches are concerned about the pace of play, some are not, but the all See D-10, coaches agreed that the situation will be the same for everyone.

“I’m fine with it and really have no concerns. Mike Ferry does a great job with the district tournament and the staff at The Country Club is top notch,” Meadville boys golf coach Fred Garvey said. “I think it may be a little slow, but that’s kind of the norm for post season golf. I’ve had teams at the state tournament several times and a six-hour round there is almost the norm.”

Competing for Meadville in Class 3A will be Alex Burgess and Robert Mahoney. Both are are experienced upperclassmen with plenty of knowledge of the course.

“I think both of them have the potential to advance to Day 2 and both have an opportunity to win or place at the district tournament. I don’t believe they are the favorites, which is a benefit in my opinion. They can just focus on playing their best and we will see what happens,” Garvey said. “They are really special young men so I am looking forward to seeing them compete for a district title.”

The Meadville girls team, coached by Terry Tidball, will compete for a team title against McDowell in Class 3A. The Bulldogs will have five golfers on the course. Kelsi Hefner, a senior, advanced to the second day of action last year in the individual portion. Teammate, Brooke Hart, was one stroke from advancing. Freshman Taylor Tidball, Bella Ross and Cerese Litzinger will also compete for Meadville.

“I expect my girls to go out there and compete. McDowell has beaten us all year, so we are looking to do the best we can, and improve with every swing,” Tidball said. “Kelsi Hefner just had a career round of 84 at the club and her confidence is high right now. Brooke Hart has been super consistent all season and I feel she will do well. Taylor (Tidball) has an outside shot of making the second day. She has been working at becoming better everyday.”

Tidball wasn’t sure what to expect from the combined day of action, but added that some coaches are concerned about the change.

In the girls portion of Class 2A, Maplewood’s Avery Palotas is the only local golfer in the tournament.

In Class 2A, Saegertown will play for a team title today. The Panthers won the Region 3 title and will face Lakeview, Grove City, Oil City and Fairview for the District 10 trophy. The favorites figure to be Lakeview, last year’s winner, and Fairview, which has played well as of late.

“The overall expectations are to perform as well as we can and to give a fight to whoever the district champion is as a team,” Saegertown head coach Brian Hanley said. “I also hope an individual or two can qualify for the state tournament.”

Hanley said slow play is a concern today, but he is holding out hope for a quick round.

“A congested and backed up course that makes play slower is our fear. Me and some other coaches have talked about it and we hope it is a good outcome, but we’re skeptical,” Hanley said. “At least everyone is in the same boat. We all want to play as well as possible.”

The Conneaut boys team will be represented by Maxx Feather and Robert Gowetski. Feather had the lowest average score of any individual golfer in Region 4.

“I told both the kids the opportunity is there to move forward. It depends on their ability and preparation,” Conneaut head coach Bob Slevin said. “I think they’re ready. Saturday was homecoming so that gave them a chance to get away from the game for a day or two. We were at The Country Club last week for a practice round so that prepared them a little bit, too.”

Slevin is not concerned about the pace of play. During the team’s practice round a college tournament was going on, which held up the group on some holes.

“I tell the kids pace of play is great, but everyone has to deal with whatever the pace is. They have to concentrate on one shot at a time and reflect on what they need to do. Slow play is part of the game,” Slevin said. “I think it will work out great. It may be a little slow, but the kids will have to understand that. It is a great course to play. Mike Ferry and his staff do a great job of getting it ready for us.”