Laskey wins county golf title by one stroke
Jim Downey
Albert Gallatin鈥檚 Brandon Sutton pitches onto the ninth green at Duck Hollow Golf Club Monday during the Fayette County Scholastic Open. Sutton shot 12-over 83 to finish in a four-way tie for eighth place to earn All-County honors.
Jim Downey
Belle Vernon鈥檚 Kirby Manown hits his drive off the tenth tee Monday during the Fayette County Scholastic Open played at Duck Hollow Golf Club. Manown finished tied with Laurel Highlands鈥� Jeremy Guzy in second place after shooting an 8-over 79.
Jim Downey
Laurel Highlands鈥� Harison Laskey rolls in a putt during the Fayette County Scholastic Open Monday at Duck Hollow Golf Club. Laskey, a freshman, was medalist and county champion, finishing with a 7-over 78.
If first impressions are lasting, then Harison Laskey made quite an impact on his high school golf career Monday after finishing with a 7-over 78 at Duck Hollow Golf Club to win the Fayette County Scholastic Open.
Laskey finished one stroke ahead of teammate Jeremy Guzy and Belle Vernon鈥檚 Kirby Manown.
Laskey played consistent golf in his first county championship, going out in 39 and finishing in 39 for his winning total.
鈥淚 hit the ball in the fairway and tried to limit my mistakes,鈥� Laskey said of his tried-and-true approach to the tournament. 鈥淚 was striking the ball very well, and was putting good.鈥�
Laskey was able to limit the damage, a double bogey No. 10, his opening hole, and count strokes to the good with birdies on No. 1, 13 and 18.
鈥淚 just missed an eagle putt on No. 18,鈥� added Laskey.
The freshman is the son of Duck Hollow course manager George Laskey, so he is quite familiar with what the course has to offer.
鈥淚 know the bumps. I wasn鈥檛 nervous,鈥� said Laskey.
Shooting 78 generally means a berth on the All-County team, but a score around par generally wins the tournament.
鈥淚 am a little bit (surprised) because I shot a 78,鈥� Laskey said of his first-place finish. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a little bit of a shock.鈥�
Guzy had the low score on the front with a 35, but the back nine caught up to him with a 44. Manown went out in 38 and came back in 41 to tie Guzy in second with at 8-over 79.
鈥淚 played well on the front. I hit a lot of bad shots on the back,鈥� said Manown, a two-time all-county performer. 鈥淚 left at least five strokes on the course.鈥�
The Leopards play at Willowbrook Golf Course, but with Uniontown, Albert Gallatin and Laurel Highlands calling Duck Hollow home, Manown is familiar with Duck Hollow. Maybe too familiar.
鈥淭here is something about this course that doesn鈥檛 agree with me,鈥� said the junior.
Frazier鈥檚 Tyler Rock, Geibel Catholic鈥檚 Ryan Robson and Belle Vernon鈥檚 Ben Wolfe all shot 80 for a share of fourth place.
Rock had all intentions of returning home with the top trophy, but the back nine waylayed his hopes.
鈥淚 was trying to win it today, but (had problems) halfway through the back nine. The back nine is rough,鈥� said Rock, adding, as all golfers do, 鈥淚 could鈥檝e been in the mid-70s.鈥�
With section action beginning today, Rock sees his opening performance being a springboard for the 2011 season.
鈥淚 wanted to use today to set off the season,鈥� said Rock. When asked if it did, Rock added, 鈥淪omewhat, yes.鈥�
Uniontown鈥檚 Josh Nelson was alone in seventh place with an 81 (36-45), and four golfers tied for eighth at 83, including Frazier鈥檚 Robert Gondura, Laurel Highlands鈥� Kelsey Soom, Belle Vernon鈥檚 Pat Wilson, and Albert Gallatin鈥檚 Brandon Sutton.
Sutton was pleased with his round, especially considering he hasn鈥檛 been on the course much, of late.
鈥淭his was a pleasant surprise. My goal was to shoot under 90,鈥� said Sutton. 鈥淚 save four strokes easy if I鈥檓 putting.
鈥淚 wanted to use this as a springboard. This is my first round of golf in three weeks.鈥�
DIVOTS: Belle Vernon won the team title with a score of 411. Laurel Highlands was second with a 417. 鈥� Tyler McFadden was the low man for Connellsville with a 93. 鈥� Section golf action begins today with California at Beth-Center, Mount Pleasant at Belle Vernon, Waynesburg Central at Brownsville, Geibel Catholic at Charleroi, Laurel Highlands hosts Ringgold, and Southmoreland at Bentworth. The Southmoreland girls host Kiski Area.