| Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016, TRIB-LIVE
Fox Chapel sophomore Gregor Meyer went from playing one of his worse rounds of golf Saturday in Ohio to playing his best Tuesday.
Meyer, 15, learned from his horrible experience, kept his cool and shot a 1-under-par 70 to win the WPIAL Class AAA championship at historic Oakmont Country Club.
It was the third consecutive year a sophomore has captured the title. Peters Township’s Hunter Bruce won in 2015 and Fox Chapel’s Anthony Cordero in 2014.
Central Catholic sophomore Jimmy Meyers and Hampton junior Justin Griffith tied for second with a 2-over 73.
Meyer’s head-turning performance came after he shot an 88 in a tournament at Tartar Field Golf Course near Columbus.
“I got a little hotheaded on Saturday,” Meyer said. “I learned from that experience. I played pretty steady (Tuesday). I hit the ball well.”
He made a great save for par on No. 2 after finding a fairway bunker on his tee shot. He also made two 60-foot putts for birdie on Nos. 6 and 8. He made the turn at 3-under.
“My putting is usually strong, but I was surprised I made those two putts,” Meyer said. “On the back nine, I was just trying to keep it together. Winning this is amazing.”
Meyer said he was fortunate to make it to Oakmont after barely surviving the semifinals at Hannastown Golf Club last week when he shot a 76. It was only the third time he played Oakmont.
Bruce and Cordero were happy they survived the tough greens and demanding fairways, bunkers and rough of Oakmont.
“I played my best,” said Bruce, who finished tied for sixth with a 76. “I played well enough to advance.”
Cordero said he was disappointed.
“I’ve been playing well, but I didn’t have it (Tuesday),” Cordero said after finishing tied for 13th with a 79 with teammate Alex Lawson. “I putted poorly. To me, this was just another tournament.
“But I know I have to play better if I want to win a state title.”
North Allegheny senior Ryan Dougherty placed fourth with a 74, Hampton senior Ben Huber was fifth with a 75, and Upper St. Clair senior Jack O’Leary, Shaler junior Tanner Grzegorczyk and Seneca Valley junior Adam Bushee tied for sixth at 76.
The three players tied for ninth with a 77: Franklin Regional sophomore Palmer Jackson, Latrobe sophomore Brady Pevarnik and Central Catholic senior Matt DelRosso.
“It was a struggle,” Jackson said. “I had trouble hitting the fairways. Once I bogeyed No. 12, all I tried to do was qualify.”
Pevarnik said he really wanted to win. But when he found out Meyer already was in at 1-under, he just tried to finish strong and qualify.
“I played terrible and was forced to scramble all round,” Pevarnik said. “Now, I’m eyeing a state title.”
The 14 golfers advance to the PIAA Western Regional at Chestnut Ridge’s Tom’s Run on Oct. 17.