STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (EYT/D9) — Clarion senior Devon Lauer and Keystone freshman Shawn Karg finished the two-day state tournament as the District 9 pacesetters in Class 2A – tying for 25th with six other golfers in the 72-player field.
(Pictured above, members of the Clarion golf team)
Lauer, the district runner-up, carded a two-round total of 154, completing the 6,130-yard White Course with 5-over-par 77s each day of the tournament. Karg’s 154 was the product of a 7-over-par 79 on the first day and an improved 3-over-par 75 the second. Both golfers were recently recognized as KSAC first-teamers.
District champion Kam Kerle, a junior at Clarion, recorded a 159 for his two rounds – shooting a 7-over- par 79 to open then following that with an 8-over-par 80. Kerle was named the KSAC MVP for the third consecutive season earlier in the week.
Brookville’s Killian Radel and Cranberry’s Cayden Baker, both seniors, ended the tournament as part of a four-way tie for 48th with 161s.
Radel shot a first-day 80 and a second-day 81, while Baker went 79 and 82.
Baker earned KSAC first team honors this season.
Ethan Carll, a North Clarion senior, put up a 167 for the tournament. Carll shot an 88 on the event’s first day and then showed a nine-stroke improvement on the second, coming home with a 79. Carll, who finished third at districts, is a member of this year’s KSAC second team.
Nick Werner (68-70-138) of Wyoming Seminary won the championship, followed by the Lake Lehman tandem of Cael Ropietski (72-68-140) and Michael Maslanka (71-69-140) in a tie for second.
2A Individual Results: Girls (October 16-17)
Chloe Fritch, the District 9 girls champion, tied for 24th in the 36-player field, posting a two-round total of 173. The Karns City junior, who played in boys matches all season, completed the 5,041-yard White Couse with 15-over-par 87 on the first day and followed with an 86 the second.
North East’s Anna Swann (73-70-143) was the girls’ champion. Kate Sowers of West Middlesex and Hannah Rabb of Warrior Run were tied for second with identical 74-71-145s.
2A Team Results: Boys (October 18)
The Clarion Bobcats, in their first state championship appearance, finished fourth out of the six teams competing in State College on Penn State’s White Course.
Clarion’s four-person team-total of 317 was the product of rounds by Devon Lauer (73), Kam Kerle (75), James Keenan (84), and Lucas Mitrosky (85).
Tanner Miller (85) also played for the Bobcats. Avery Kline was the team’s alternate.
Devon Prep (301) won the team championship, followed by runner-up Belle Vernon (306), with Scranton Prep (307) in third.
3A Individual Results: Boys (October 16-17)
Bradford’s Jake Franz, a senior, and St. Marys Louie Nedzinski, a sophomore, both finished with 162s – tying them with two others for 65th in the 72-player field.
Franz, the district champion, completed the 6,329-yard Blue Course with a 7-over-par 79 on the first day and followed that with an 11-over-par 83 the second.
Nedzinski, the district runner-up, shot 9-over-par 81s both rounds of the event.
Butler’s Hunter Swidzinski (73-64-137) won the state championship in a play-off against Nick Turowski (69-68-137) of Penn Trafford and Wes Lorish (66-71-137) of Plum. Turowski and Lorish shared second place.
3A Individual Results: Girls (October 16-17)
Sophomore Payten Leet of Bradford, the district titlist, finished 34th of the 36 golfers competing. She shot a first round 17-over-par 89 on the 5,057-yard Blue Course, following it with a 23-over-par 95 for a two-day total of 184.
Rhianna Gooneratne of Plymouth Whitemarsh won the championship with a 140 (67-73). The runner-up spot was shared by Phoenixville’s Kate Roberts (75-70-145) and North Pocono’s Gwen Powell (74-71-145).
