Sadler’s wait pays off with spot in PIAA finals
Waynesburg Central's Aaron Yorio tees off during the PIAA AA Western Regional Qualifer at Tom's Run Golf Course in Blairsville.
Southmoreland's Josh Redding putts on the 13th green at Tom's Run Golf Course in Blairsville Monday during the PIAA Class AA Western Regional Qualifer .
Holly Tonini
Bentworth鈥檚 Christian Sadler hits a tee shot during the PIAA Class AA Western Regional Qualifier Monday at Tom鈥檚 Run Golf Course in Blairsville.
Southmoreland's Josh Redding hits a tee shot during the PIAA Class AA Western Regional Qualifer at Tom's Run Golf Course in Blairsville.
Holly Tonini
Waynesburg Central鈥檚 Aaron Yorio hits a putt during the PIAA Class AA Western Regional Qualifer at Tom鈥檚 Run Golf Course in Blairsville.
BLAIRSVILLE 鈥� Christian Sadler鈥檚 wait was interminable as the Bentworth junior anxiously paced and watched the scoreboard Monday during the PIAA Boys Class AA Western Regional Qualifier at Tom鈥檚 Run Golf Course.
His apprehension was relieved as the final scores from a long day of golf were recorded with the discovery his 9-over 81 was good enough to earn one of the 22 available berths into next week鈥檚 PIAA Championship at the Heritage Hills Golf Resort and Conference Center in York. He finished in a three-way tie for 19th.
Waynesburg Central鈥檚 Aaron Yorio and Southmoreland鈥檚 Josh Redding didn鈥檛 have similar anxiety as both easily made the grade for their first trip to the state final. Yorio finished with a 4-over 76, while Redding closed with a 77.
鈥淚t鈥檚 great. I have no words,鈥� Sadler said after he discovered his season would extend another week. 鈥�(Scoreboard watching) is nerve-wracking. I was looking for 4s (scores in the 40s) and 8s (final scores in the 80s).鈥�
Sadler had his doubts after he finished that his 81 would be low enough to advance.
鈥漀ot great,鈥� Sadler said of his round. 鈥淚 was fighting my golf swing all day. I had blocks to the right. Everything didn鈥檛 gel together. There was no comfort in my golf game today, throughout my bag.鈥�
The boys and girls Class AAA and AA regionals were all held on Tom鈥檚 Run, so the field had a shotgun start at 9 a.m. Sadler opened on No. 16, a par 3.
鈥滻 was nervous on the first tee, but I told myself 鈥榶ou鈥檙e here to play golf,'鈥� said Sadler.
Sadler had no birdies in his round, although he 鈥渓ipped out (a birdie putt) on No. 3.鈥�
Rain fell through most of the opening nine holes, leaving some fairways soggy and greens soft.
鈥漎ou had to pay attention what type of contact you had on the ball,鈥� Sadler said of his play off the fairways.
Sadler had an idea where he thought he should be at the end of the round.
鈥滻t was not much of a stretch to shoot 76, 77, 78. This is a big stage. I thought I could shoot anywhere from 2-under to 81,鈥� explained Sadler.
Yorio was the leader in the clubhouse for a short while after he finished with two birdies, six bogeys and 10 pars. The Waynesburg junior started on No. 17.
鈥淭he conditions were pretty easy. There was no wind,鈥� said Yorio.
Yorio admitted he was pretty calm in the state regional.
鈥淚 was probably less nervous for this tournament than the WPIAL tournament. There鈥檚 less pressure,鈥� said Yorio.
That attitude came through in his iron play.
鈥淚 hit my irons real well today. I hit a lot of greens,鈥� said Yorio.
He felt he settled in around No. 4, his sixth hole.
鈥淩ight after that (No. 4), I felt pretty good. Nos. 3 and 4 are the hardest holes and I parred both of them,鈥� said Yorio.
Redding was cruising along, sitting at 2-over through the first 16 holes. Then, he had to finish out Nos. 15 and 16.
鈥淚 had a bogey on No. 15 and a double (bogey) on 16,鈥� said Redding, who had two birdies, five bogeys and one double bogey. 鈥淚 was playing well. My driver was working. I was putting drives down the fairway.
鈥淚 started par-birdie-par on my first three holes. I was settled in.鈥�
Redding missed the 15th green pin-high right and his chip slid past the pin. His par putt came up short.
Then, he had issues on No. 16, a par 3.
鈥淚 pulled it (his tee shot) and killed it. I was 20 yards past the pin,鈥� said Redding.
Despite the lackluster finish, Redding easily qualified for the state final. Redding did not advance from the section qualifier last year after he failed to meet the target score, despite being the medalist. He had to fight his way out of the WPIAL finals after he won a playoff with California鈥檚 Nate Luketich for the final regional berth.
鈥淚 wanted to break 80. I shot 71 in the practice round,鈥� said Redding, adding, 鈥淚 just wanted to qualify.鈥�