Gus Minkin's magical season ends with fifth-place finish at PIAA golf championship
Five York-area golfers took to the course at Heritage Hills on Tuesday, competing for the PIAA state championship.
Central York's Gus Minkin and Joe Parrini, and Eastern York's Andrew Davis and Kevin Crumbling took part in the Boys' Class AAA tournament, while Julianne Lee competed in the girls' division.
Minkin and Parrini stayed in contention throughout, finishing fifth and ninth overall, respectively. Minkin shot a 75 for a two-round total of 150 and Parrini finished with a 79 for a total of 154. They both finished behind Holy Ghost Prep's Steve Cerbara, who fired a 147 and took the state title in a playoff.
Central York head coach Mike Ruby said he's proud of his three golfers, but sad for Minkin who held the overall lead at one point during Day 2.
"Overall, I'm pleased, but I'm also disappointed for Gus," he said. "I don't think anyone has ever won counties, districts, regionals and then states. That's golf. Some days you win and some days you lose."
All four players were in contention going into Tuesday, but Minkin and Parrini had the best chance to take home a state title. Minkin shot a 74 in Monday's first round, two strokes back of the lead, and Parrini sat one stroke behind him.
"I felt pretty good [going into Tuesday]," Minkin said. "I knew I could win if I made some birdies. Coming into the season, this was the goal all along, to win a state championship. I was right in contention, right where I wanted to be."
Minkin birdied four of the first eight holes and took the overall lead. However, he ran into trouble at the next two holes, shooting a triple-bogey on hole No. 9 for the second straight day and followed that with a double-bogey on hole No. 10. That pushed Minkin out of the lead for good.
"A triple [bogey] gets to most people and in light of having the same thing [Monday] happen, it was pretty disappointing to him," Ruby said. "He's without a doubt the best kid I've ever coached. If I could stay young and Gus could stay a senior, I could coach him for the rest of my life."
The end of the front nine also doomed Parrini. He remained a few strokes back until the eighth hole, where he carded a double bogey, and then posted a plus-4 on the ninth hole.
"I'm a little disappointed with the way my round went," Parrini said. "I was playing well up until eight and then nine I hit it out of bounds and made an 8, so that really took me out of it."
He shot a 43 on the front nine, but responded with a 36 on the second half of the course to stay under 80.
Lee, the girls' District 3 champion, struggled Tuesday, carding an 85 to finish with a total score of 167.
For Eastern York head coach Stephanie Lesser and her team, having two golfers in the state tournament for consecutive years is a huge achievement.
"Having two kids, two years in a row, compete at the state tournament is really big for the program," Lesser said. "They have lived at the golf course since they were 10, and they've made themselves good golfers."
Crumbling led the way for Eastern York, shooting back-to-back 79 rounds to finish 11 strokes off the championship. He had a 38 on the front nine and finished with a 41 on the back nine.
Davis tied Crumbling in the final round, but could not overcome a first-round 84 that had him 12 strokes off the lead. He closed his round with a 40.
PIAA Championship
Tuesday's final round results at Heritage Hills Golf Resort
Boys'
Class AAA
1. *Steve Cerbara, Holy Ghost Prep: 75-72—147
2. Geoff Rice, Great Valley: 73-74—147
3. Zack Ford, Meadville: 73-75—148
4. Evan Brown, Kennett: 74-75—149
5. Gus Minkin, Central York: 74-76—150
6. Patrick Kelly, Cathedral Prep: 73-79—152
7T. Palmer Jackson, Fran. Regional: 80-73—153
7T. R.J. Wren, Twin Valley: 76-77—153
9T. Noah Firmstone, Moon: 74-80—154
9T. Joe Parrini, Central York: 79-75—154
9T. Jack Melville, Upper Dublin: 80-74—154
9T. Brady Pevarnik, Latrobe: 78-76—154
13. Davis Clarke, Cumberland Valley:79-76—155
14. Alec Stopperich, Peters Twp.: 78-78—156
15T. Nick Franki, Waynesboro: 78-80-158
15T. Kevin Crumbling, Eastern York: 79-79—158
15T. Nick Gianelos, Unionville: 76-82—158
18T. Quinn Guzman, Souderton: 74-86—160
18T. Justin Guzik, Penn Trafford: 80-80—160
18T. William Mitchell, St. Joseph's Prep: 81-79—160
21T. Ben Pochet, Spring-Ford: 79-82—161
21T. Dan Rieger, Methacton: 83-78—161
21T. Kyle Vance, Methacton: 81-80—161
24T. Andrew Davis, Eastern York: 79-84—163
24T. Robert Falconer, Cumberland Valley: 82-81—163
26T. Connor Schmidt, Peters Township: 83-81—164
26T. Mitch Faulkner, Bradord: 89-75—164
26T. Alex Butler, St. Joseph's Prep: 80-84—164
26T. Jake Fitts, Central Bucks South: 85-79—164
26T. Ronnie Yanoski, Valley View: 79-85—164
26T. Alex Lawson, Fox Chapel: 82-82—164
32T. Jimmy Meyers, Central Catholic: 77-88—165
32T: David Kim, Upper Dublin: 80-85—165
34. Tanner Johnson, Peters Township: 81-86—167
35. Matt Kreider, Ephrata: 85-84—169
36. Ian Patterson, Chambersburg: 88-89—177
Note: *-indicates won playoff
Class AA
1. Nate Menon, Wyomissing: 71-75—146
2. Chris Tanabe, Quaker Valley: 75-75—150
3. Jason Li, Sewickley Academy: 80-71—151
4. Evan Long, Laurel: 79-74—153
5. Nick Maff, Bethlehem Catholic: 80-75—155
6. Chase Miller, Tulpehocken: 79-77—156
7. Mike Kondratik, Charleroi: 82-77—159
8T. William Mirams, Notre Dame ES: 84-86—160
8T. Tom Dzwonczyk, Holy Cross: 79-81—160
10T. Dylan O'Dell, Forest City: 82-79—161
10T. Jeremy Eckenrode, Central Cambria: 80-83–161
12. Jacob Wilson, Kennedy Catholic: 78-84—162
13T. Cody Dobbin, Burgettstown: 80-83—163
13T. Alex Kiepert, Central Cambria: 80-83—163
15. Austin Smith, Montrose: 77-87—164
16T. Declan Hickton, Sewickley Academy: 79-86—165
16T. Jared Bish, Clarion: 83-82—165
18T. Nick Innocenzo, Townada: 84-82—166
18T. Clay Asplundh, New Hope-Solebury: 85-81—166
18T. Chris Palutro, Lakeview: 81-85—166
18T. Troy Martin, Harbor Creek; 84-82—166
22T. Sam Smallhoover, Bishop Canevin: 82-85—167
22T. Will Riva, Lancaster Catholic: 80-87—167
24T. Conner Moran, Richland: 82-86—168
24T. Hunter Duriez, Northern Cambria: 81-87—168
26T. Nick Kuhn, Lansdale Catholic: 82-87—169
26T. Gavin Geiger, Danville: 86-83—169
28T. Tucker Skerbetz, Laurel: 82-88—170
28T. Luke Dziak Bentworth: 84-86—170
30. Nat Gallen, Wyomissing: 83-88—171
31T. Austin Lis, Burgettstown: 85-87—172
31T. Scott Brown, Sewickley Academy: 88-84—172
33. Carter Fischer,Philipsburg-Osceola: 86-88—174
34T. Liam Shea, Carmichaels: 86-89—175
34T. James Tressler, Holy Cross: 87-88—175
35. Eric Maginnis, Titusville: 90-87—177
Girls'
Class AAA
1. Brynn Walker, Radnor: 74-76—150
2. Maddie Sager, Owen J. Roberts: 77-76—153
3. Marissa Balish, Hampton: 77-77—154
4T. Mia Kness, Peters Township: 73-82—155
4T. Madeline Herr, Council Rock North: 78-77—155
4T. Maddy McDanel, Central Valley: 78-77—155
7. Lauren Freyvogel, Pine Richland: 77-80—157
8. Morgan Frazier, Cumberland Valley: 78-80—158
9. Gabby Kim, Radnor: 85-74—159
10. Megan Leto, North Alleghney: 79-87—163
11. Samantha Staudt, Coatesville: 80-85—165
12. Caroline Wrigley, North Allegheny: 79-85—166
13. Julianne Lee, Central York: 82-85—167
14. Karly Brown, Archbishop Wood: 80-88—168
15. Adelyn Deery, Manheim Township: 86-84—170
16. Luaren Muhlbauer, Council Rock North: 85-90—175
17. Molly Mowatt, Wallenpaupack: 91-89—180
18. Allison Appleton, Penn Manor: 87-95—182
Class AA
1. Olivia Zambruno, Greensburg CC: 76-77—153
2. Amber Hess, Keystone: 84-79—163
3. Marissa Kirkwood: Neshannock: 80-84—164
4. Franca Hurtado, Allentown CC: 82-85—167
5. Nina Kouchi, New Hope-Solebury: 86-82—168
6. Audrey Dougherty, Freeport: 86-86—172
7. Katie Carlson, Avonworth: 87-89—176
8. Andrea McCormick, Villa Maria: 84-93—177
9. Grace Stillman, Lancaster Mennonite: 94-85—179
10. Aly Rentschler, Hamburg: 93-90—183
11. Morgan Sohosky, Bloomsburg: 88-97—185
12. Olyvia Longacre, Christopher Dock: 95-91—186
13. Annika Erdely, Frazier: 85-102—187
14T. Alison Schmader, Maplewood: 100-89—189
14T. Carly Yovich, Fort LeBoeuf: 93-96—189
16. Sophie Orsulak, Blue Mountain: 96-94—190
17. Abby Zambruno, Greensburg CC: 100-93—193
18. Julia Fessler, Villa Maria: 98-100—198