Penn-Trafford’s Anna Stowers claims WCCA golf title for 1st win

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, September 11, 2017 | 8:12 PM

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When a slippery, 30-foot downhill putt curled right and disappeared into the hole, Anna Stowers just jotted down the birdie at the short par-4 fourth and moved on.

The Penn-Trafford senior had no idea how important the putt would turn out to be Monday during the second annual Westmoreland County Coaches Association girls golf championship at Hannastown Golf Club.

Stowers shot 8-over-par 43 and tied freshman teammate Lauren Barber for first place, pushing the nine-hole tournament to a scorecard playoff. The short par-4 fourth, the No. 1 handicap hole, was the first considered in the playoff, and the circle around Stowers' birdie stood out more than any because it sealed the victory.

Barber made a bogey on the hole.

“This is the first tournament I have ever won,” said Stowers, who overcame a triple-bogey at No. 7. “Coming into today, I just wanted to have fun. I didn't really treat it like a serious tournament. It's nice to get the win.”

Barber also took a loose approach into the tournament. She played holes 3 through 9 at 3-over.

“This was a fun event, and I think a lot of us had a nice time,” she said. “It was great to see our team do well here.”

Greensburg Central Catholic junior Abby Zambruno matched Hempfield's Taylor Short with a 44 to tie for third. Short tied for fourth last year.

Jocelyn Behr of Franklin Regional and freshman Angelika Dewicki of Greensburg Central tied for fifth at 46.

Zambruno finished second in the event last year — to her sister, Olivia, now at Penn State — with a 1-under 33 at Glengarry Golf Links.

This year's tournament saw a much tougher course with much faster greens — and higher scores, as a result. There were only four birdies in the field.

“With nine holes, one bad hole can hurt you, and it's hard to get it back,” Abby Zambruno said.

“The greens were fast. I made a double and a triple at 3 and 4. I get nervous and put pressure on myself.”

Stowers, the daughter of Westmoreland Country Club superintendent Bill Stowers, was pleased to see a 1-2 finish from Penn-Trafford. Another teammate, Ava Green, shot 47 to tie for seventh.

“It's a good sign,” said Stowers, who placed seventh last year. “Hopefully, we can win the section.”

Penn-Trafford coach Ed Herbst said Stowers and Barber like to compete against one another.

Both can drive the ball 230-plus-yards off the tee.

“Anna has been a starter for three years now, and she plays solid,” Herbst said. “She is a strong hitter, and her putting has really gotten better.

“Lauren kind of came in at the perfect time when our best player, Amanda Conner, graduated,” Herbst said. “She came in and worked hard and has been our low scorer a few times. They like to go against each other in practice. They're getting better every week. Our goal is to get back to Cedarbrook (for the team finals).”

Kiski Area's Isabella Mercurio had the shot of the day, holing out for eagle from 103 yards at the short, par-4 sixth with a pitching wedge.

“Shot of the day?” Mercurio said. “That was the shot of a lifetime.”

Bill Beckner Jr. is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at bbeckner@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BillBeckner.

Tags: Greensburg C.C., Hempfield Area, Penn-Trafford