5 things to watch at the WPIAL Class AAA boys golf championships

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, October 1, 2018 | 8:15 PM

The WPIAL Class AAA boys golf championships will be held Tuesday at Oakmont Country Club for the second time in three years.

The event begins at 10 a.m. The top 14 finishers advance to the PIAA Western Regional.

Here are five things to watch for from the top golfers:

Don’t forget me: With all the attention focused on Latrobe senior Brady Pevarnik, Franklin Regional senior Palmer Jackson and Central Catholic seniors Jimmy Meyers and Neal Shipley, Gregor Meyer should remind people he won the WPIAL title at Oakmont in 2016 by shooting a 1-under 70. Meyer, a Fox Chapel senior, and Meyers are paired together. Meyers tied for second in 2016 by shooting a 2-over 73.

Close, no but …: Pevarnik lost in a playoff to Moon’s Chris Sabol in 2017 at Nemacolin Country Club in Beallsville. Pevarnik and Sabol each shot an even-par 70. Pevarnik, who has the lowest qualifying score (67), tied for 10 ^th in 2016 at Oakmont and finished third in 2015 at Southpointe Golf Club in Canonsburg.

Jackson carded 62: Jackson shot a course-record 62 at Meadowink Golf Club two weeks ago. Jackson, who has the second lowest qualifying score (69), has played more top golf courses across the country this year than some PGA Tour players. He’s played Valhalla in Louisville, Baltusrol in New Jersey, Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hills in California and now Oakmont. He said Oakmont will be the most challenging.

Did you know? When Geibel’s George Laskey won the WPIAL championship at Oakmont in 1987, he never used his driver. Yep, that’s right, Laskey teed off with his 3-wood, kept the ball in the fairway and was a surprise winner. Could there be another Laskey in the 2018 tournament? Montour senior Casey Hulbert could be that player. He’s the first Montour player to reach the finals in more than 20 years.

Meyers lurking: Central Catholic’s Meyers, like Pevarnik and Jackson, is a three-time WPIAL placewinner. Meyers placed fifth in 2017, tied for second in 2016 and was 12 ^th in 2015. Meyers and Jackson recently helped the WPGA amateurs defeated the Tri-State PGA pros in the Palmer Cup at Latrobe.

Paul Schofield is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Paul at pschofield@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Schofield_Trib.

Tags: Central Catholic, Fox Chapel, Franklin Regional, Latrobe, Montour