GCC’s Meghan Zambruno, Riverside’s Skyler Fox atop leaderboard at PIAA golf championship.

By: Paul Schofield
Monday, October 21, 2019 | 6:52 PM

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Greensburg Central Catholic sophomore Meghan Zambruno and Riverside senior Skyler Fox sit atop the leaderboard at the PIAA golf ghampionships after Monday’s opening round.

Round 2 was moved up to an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start because of the forecast of rain in York.

Zambruno shot a 3-over-par 75 to lead the Class AA girls tournament at Heritage Hills Golf Resort.

She holds a one-shot lead over North East sophomore Lydia Swan and Rockwood junior Vileska Gelpi heading to the second round.

Zambruno said her approach to the state tournament was simple, ‘keep it simple’.

“It definitely helped me to know the course,” Zambruno said. “”I played steady golf because I knew you couldn’t be aggressive on some holes.

“I was getting the ball in the fairway and then getting the ball of the greens and two putting.”

With the forecast of rain on Tuesday, Zambruno said she’ll need to make some adjustments to her game.

“I don’t consider myself in the lead,” Zambruno said. “There are good golfers a shot back.

“Because of the weather forecast, you have to adjust your game. Being in the lead kind of makes me nervous. I have to stay focused.”

WPIAL champion Eva Bulger, a freshman from Quaker Valley, was tied for sixth at 9-over 81. Sewickley Academy senior Zoe Luther was tied for ninth with an 85, and GCC junior Angelika Dewicki was tied for 11th with an 86.

Fox, who was a three-time WPIAL champion and three-time top five finisher in the state tournament, was tied with Hickory junior Cam Colbert and Brandywine Heights junior Elijah Ruppert at 1-over 72.

Chartiers-Houston senior Jack Hritsko is sixth at 4-over, and WPIAL champion J.F. Aber, a senior from Sewickley Academy, was tied for 12th at 10-over.

It wasn’t a good day for Carmichaels junior Remmey Lohr, the first girl to qualify for the PIAA boys tournament. She shot 14-over 85.

Shady Side Academy junior Adam Lauer was in second place in Class AAA after shooting a 3-under 68. He was one shot behind Central York senior Carson Bacha.

Also in the hunt from the WPIAL are Pine-Richland senior Donnie Professori and Central Catholic freshman Rocco Salvitti, who are tied for seventh at 2-over. Fox Chapel senior and WPIAL champion Scott Bitar is ninth at 3-over, and Penn-Trafford junior Alex Turowski and Upper St. Clair senior Nathan Piatt and junior Scott Jordan are tied for 10th at 4-over.

The WPIAL Class AAA girls face an uphill battle.

Lower Merion freshman Sydney Yermish shot an even-par 72 to lead after Round 1.

Peters Township junior Ella McRoberts is tied for sixth at 4-over 76. WPIAL champion and North Allegheny senior Isabella Walter is ninth following a 7-over 79.

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.

Tags: Carmichaels, Greensburg C.C., North Allegheny, Penn-Trafford, Quaker Valley, Riverside, Upper St. Clair