Penn-Trafford’s Turowski likes his position, Plum’s Lorish leads after Day 1 of PIAA golf

By: Paul Schofield
Monday, October 16, 2023 | 8:24 PM

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After shooting himself back into contention at the PIAA Class 3A golf championships on Monday, Penn-Trafford senior Nick Turowski headed to Colyer Lake to try his luck at catching fish.

While the fishing expedition wasn’t successful, Turowski was OK with that. He wants to snag a big prize on Tuesday.

“I’m saving all my luck for the final round,” Turowski said.

Turowski overcame a slow start on the front, which included a double bogey and a bogey, and recorded five birdies on the back nine of Penn State’s Blue Course, to finish Round 1 of the 36-hole event tied for fifth with a 3-under par 69.

Plum’s Wes Lorish and St. Joe’s Prep’s Aidan Farkas lead the event at 6-under par 66. State College’s Max Wager and Lower Merion’s Seiji Sako are tied for third at 4-under 68.

Turowski is tied with Manheim Township’s Andrew Bilson.

“I feel I’m in a very good position,” Turowski said. “I definitely had a hiccup on the front nine, but I’m pleased with the way I fought back. Five birdies on the back nine — gives me a chance.”

The two-time WPIAL champion and West Virginia commit said it was typical state championship weather — cold and windy.

Turowski said the low scores were because the course was shortened to 6,300 yards, which allowed the golfers to bomb their drives and chip around the greens.

“What I did well, no matter how it was going — and it was bad early — I stayed positive,” Turowski said. “I still believed I was going to win. I feel like the old Nick would have packed it in. I fought back into a position where I have a serious chance at winning tomorrow.”

Colton Lusk of Peters Township shot a 2-under 70 and is tied for seventh while Ravi Desai of North Allegheny and Connor McKenzie of Upper St. Clair each shot a 1-under 71 and are tied for 10th.

The Class 3A players played on the Blue Course, while the Class 2A golfers played on the White Course.

In Class 3A girls, Rhianna Goonerathe of Plymouth Whitemarsh shot a 5-under par 67 and holds a five-shot lead on Lihini Ranaweera of Seneca Valley, who shot even-par 72. Ellie Benson of Peters Township shot a 3-over 75 and is tied for fifth place, while WPIAL champ Mya Morgan of Elizabeth Forward shot a 4-over 76 and is tied for eighth.

The Class 2A boys leader is Nick Werner of Wyoming Seminary, who shot a 4-under par 68.

Luke Gronbeck of Eden Christian Academy shot a 2-under 70 and is in second place while Matt Morelli of Neshannock and Aaron Didjunas of Elizabeth Forward were tied for fourth at even-par 72.

WPIAL champion Nixen Erdely of Frazier is tied for seventh place at 1-over par 73 with five other WPIAL golfers: Ethan Dai of Quaker Valley, Rogan Maloney of Belle Vernon, Eion Teirnan of Keystone Oaks, Logan Voytish of Uniontown and Braden Riley of Greensburg Central Catholic.

The Class 2A girls leader is Sasha Petrochko of Hickory, who shot an even-par, 72. Pearl Lundgren of Eden Christian is in ninth place after shooting a 6-over 78.

The final round is slated for Tuesday.

Class 3A boys

Leaders: Aidan Farkas, St. Joe’s Prep, 6-under, 66 and Wes Lorish, Plum, 6-under 66

WPIAL: T5 Nick Turowski, Penn-Trafford, 3-under 69; T7 Colton Lusk, Peters Township, 2-under 70; T10 Ravi Desai, North Allegheny, 1-under 71; T10 Connor McKenzie, USC, 1-under 71; T17 Michael Quallich, Baldwin, even par 70; T17 David Fuhrer, Fox Chapel, even par 70; T23 Hunter Swidzinski, Butler, 1-over 73; T 27 Jacob Crissman, Shaler 2-over 74; T38 Jack Sacriponte, Latrobe 4 over 76; T44 Ryan Watterson, Peters Township, 5-over 77; T51 Davis Kittsley, Fox Chapel, 6-over 78; T55 Will Hilton, Pine-Richland, 7-over 79; T55 Zack Ross, Moon, 7-over 79;

Class 2A boys:

Leader: Nick Werner, Wyoming Seminary, 4-under par 68

WPIAL and district: 2. Luke Gronbeck, Eden Christian Academy, 2-under 70; T4 Matt Morelli, Neshannock, 72; T4 Aaron Didjunas, 72; T7 Alex Talmadge, West Shamokin, 1-over 73; T7 Nixen Erdely, Frazier, 1-over 73; T7 Ethan Dai, Quaker Valley, 1-over 73; T7 Rogan Maloney, Belle Vernon, 73; T7 Eion Teirnan, Keystone Oaks, 73; T7 Logan Voytish, Uniontown, 73; T7 Braden Riley, Greensburg Central Catholic, 73; T16 Michael Maslanka, Riverside, 2-over 74;

Class 3A girls

Leader: Rhianna Goonerathe, Plymouth Whitemarsh, 5-under par 67

WPIAL: 2. Lihini Ranaweera, Seneca Valley, even par 72; T5 Ellie Benson, Peters Township 3-over 75; T8 Mya Morgan, Elizabeth Forward 4-over 76; T13 Megan Manesiotis, North Allegheny,6-over 78; T16 Grace Windfelder, Oakland Catholic 7-over 79; T24 Paige Meyers, Oakland Catholic 11-over 83; T24 Angelina Schid, Moon, 11-over 83.

Class 2A girls

Leader: Sasha Petrochko, Hickory, even par 72

WPIAL and district: T9 Pearl Lundgren, Eden Christian Academy 6-over 78; T14 Sophia Covelli, Neshannock, 9-over 81; T25 Lillie Snow, Freeport, 16-over 88 Alayna Stawovy, GCC, 16-over 88; 27 Emily Obara, Seton-LaSalle, 19-over 91; T29 Savanna Stile, Lincoln Park, 21-over 93; 36 Maren Dunlap, River Valley, 37-over 109.

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: Eden Christian, Penn-Trafford, Plum, Seneca Valley