Battle on the links: Mikes secure key section win over Raiders
Carmichaels Mason Lapana plays his second shot from the fairway on the ninth hole at Carmichaels Golf Club during Wednesday鈥檚 Section 3-AA match against Waynesburg Central. (Photo by Jim Downey)
Waynesburg Central鈥檚 Braden Benke watches as teammate Mason Switalski rolls in his putt on the ninth green at Carmichaels Golf Club in Wednesday鈥檚 Section 3-AA match against Carmichaels. (Photo by Jim Downey)
Carmichaels鈥� Liam Lohr watches his chip roll to the pin on the ninth green at Carmichaels Golf Club during Wednesday鈥檚 Section 3-AA match against Waynesburg Central. (Photo by Jim Downey)
Waynesburg Central's Braden Benke chips onto the ninth green at Carmichaels Golf Club during Wednesday's Section 3-AA match against Carmichaels.
Waynesburg Central's Mason Switalski kicks up a divot on his shot from the fairway on the ninth hole at Carmichaels Golf Club in Wednesday's Section 3-AA match against Carmichaels.
CARMICHAELS 鈥� The Carmichaels boys golf team secured a key, early season Section 3-AA victory on Aug. 24 after the Mikes defeated visiting Waynesburg Central, 199-216, at Carmichaels Golf Club.
Carmichaels remains unbeaten in section play, improving to 4-0. The Raiders slip to 2-1 in the section and 3-1 overall.
The Mikes built an early lead after Liam Lohr (36) and Mason Lapana (34) combined for 4-under 70 on the par-35 front nine. The Raiders鈥� Braden Benke and Mason Switalski both shot 41.
Lapana has been playing solid in the early season and continued to do so with his 3-under score against Waynesburg.
鈥淚 had an eagle on No. 6. I birdied Nos. 2 and 9, and bogeyed No. 4 after a bad three-putt,鈥� the left-hander said of his round.
Lapana credits his play on the green with his improving scores.
鈥淢y putting has improved a lot. And, I鈥檓 getting out of trouble better for the third shot,鈥� said Lapana. 鈥淢y driver is getting better slowly, but surely. It鈥檚 getting there.鈥�
Lapana understood the importance of winning at home with later matches on the road against Waynesburg and McGuffey.
鈥淏eating them here was good, but it鈥檚 beating McGuffey at Dogwood Acres and Waynesburg at Rohanna鈥檚 that will be the decider,鈥� explained Lapana.
Lapana is looking for another season of individual and team success. The Mikes placed sixth in the Class AA team championship last year and he advanced to the individual final.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the same goal, to get to Oakmont and, if I鈥檓 lucky, make it to states at Penn State. I like Penn State. It鈥檚 a nice course,鈥� said Lapana. 鈥淚 play well at Chippewa (the site of the sectional tournament), so I think it鈥檚 a good thing.鈥�
Switalski finished with one birdie, four bogeys and one double bogey. Switalski said he 鈥渢hree-putted three or four times鈥� in his 4-over total.
鈥淚 doubled that easy par-4 along the road. I went long and then three-putted,鈥� Switalski said of the double bogey.
Switalski, who grew a few inches since last season, said he and playing mate Benke had issues on the greens.
鈥淲e had trouble putting. We couldn鈥檛 get used to the greens,鈥� said Switalski. 鈥淪ome went long, some went short. We couldn鈥檛 find the right speed.
鈥淢y drives were good today. They were pretty far and pretty straight, for the most part. My shots in were okay. I really struggled on the greens.鈥�
Switalski, in his second year of golfing, is looking to advance through to the WPIAL Class AA finals at Oakmont and have a successful run in the team playoffs. The run to the historic course begins in the sectional tournament at Chippewa Golf Course.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 the goal, to make it through (to Oakmont),鈥� said Switalski. 鈥淚 try to shoot 10, 12-over. On 18 holes, I鈥檇 be happy with that score.鈥�
Switalski acknowledged the importance of the early season section match.
鈥淚f we win here today, then we have a really good shot to win at our place. This is pretty much the section here,鈥� said Switalski.
The Mikes鈥� Dustin Hastings, who nearly holed out his approach shot on the eighth green, shot 38. Dom Colarusso (43) and Zachary Murphy (48) closed out the scoring for Carmichaels. Nathan Dursa鈥檚 53 was not used.
The Raiders鈥� No. 3 man Chase Phillips was the low man with 2-over 39. Joe Kirsch (46) and Dom Benamati (49) rounded out the scoring. Derek Turcheck鈥檚 50 was not used.