Junior Miller leads strong returning core for Shaler girls golf

By: Josh Rizzo
Sunday, August 4, 2019 | 12:01 AM

Emilee Miller needed to shore up the mental aspect of her golf game.

The Shaler Area junior knew the perfect antagonist was within the same house. After a season when Miller qualified for the Class AAA WPIAL championships, she played a lot of rounds with her younger brother, Joey.

“My younger brother gets in my head,” Emilee Miller said. “When I play with him, I have to work on blocking him out.”

Coming off a turnaround season, everyone in the Titans program is working on becoming more comfortable. Shaler won four section matches last season after winning none the year before.

Second-year coach David Lapmarado took over weeks before his first season started and is happy with the response.

The Titans will have 12 to 15 players when the season starts. Shaler is in Section 4-AAA along with Armstrong, Butler, Fox Chapel, Kiski Area and Shady Side Academy. The Titans open the section schedule Aug. 22 against Fox Chapel at home.

“We want to build upon last year and keep a fun look at the game of golf,” Lapmarado said. “Like I told all the girls, golf is very much a life-long learning process.”

Dana Wolf, Anna Grzegorczyk and Darian Lees are Shaler’s returning seniors. Lapmarado believes for the Titans to qualify for the playoffs they will have to continue to do the little things well.

Lapmarado emphasizes one above the rest.

“Definitely short game, short game, short game,” Lapmarado said. “No matter what level you are, those who rise to the top are the ones who can putt and chip. I tell the girls I don’t mean to sound like a broken record.”

Miller’s focus is on letting less bother her. During WPIALs, Miller shot a 109 and finished 34th. The experience left her wanting to improve her mental toughness.

She played a lot of rounds at Wildwood Golf Club and Pittsburgh Field Club to get ready for the upcoming season.

Having a strong mental approach will allow Miller to avoid frustration.

“I didn’t do as well as I wanted,” Miller said. “I wasn’t focused. I was getting in my head if I had a bad shot. If I have a bad shot now, I want to make the next one better.”

Tags: Shaler