Pine-Richland girls golfers celebrate section title after win in finale

By: Jerin Steele
Sunday, September 29, 2024 | 11:01 AM

Before the season started, Jared Slimm took a picture of the Pine-Richland girls golf banner in the gymnasium and shared it with his players.

“The only year on there was 2016,” Slimm said. “Our overall team goal this year was to put another year on there.”

It came down to the final match, against their biggest rival North Allegheny, but the Rams hit their goal.

Pine-Richland defeated the Tigers, 162-175, in the finale to claim the Section 1-3A title, which is the second one in team history.

They earned a spot at the WPIAL Class 3A team championship Oct. 10 at Cedarbrook Golf Course in Belle Vernon.

The Rams lost to North Allegheny in a playoff in the first meeting this season, but the Tigers lost to Mars, giving each team one loss going into the final match.

It was played at Pine-Richland’s home course Conley’s Resort in Butler.

The Rams put together one of their best team scores of the season, three strokes off their best score of 159 against Mars.

Sophomore Siena Smith shot one-under par 35 to lead the way and junior Giuliana DeRenzo shot 40. Both put forth their best scores of the season.

“The girls were fired up but extremely calm at the same time, understanding that they didn’t have to do anything special,” Slimm said. “They just needed to play to their potential, and we thought that would be good enough. If it wasn’t, then North Allegheny beat us.

“This was a year where one through eight, no matter what lineup we put out, we felt we were the best team. To have to come down to the last match was very cool. It was something we were very excited about and something I’ll never forget. The girls stepped up in that particular moment and played to their potential. It was very cool to see.”

Smith also qualified for the WPIAL Class 3A individual championship and was in second place after a strong first-round 78 at Willowbrook Country Club in Apollo. She was three shots behind Peters Township’s Elle Benson entering the final round, which was scheduled for Monday at Butler Country Club.

“She has all the tools to compete with Mya Morgan from Elizabeth, Elle Benson of Peters Township and Kayli Dings of North Allegheny,” Slimm said. “Those are the top golfers in the WPIAL, and now she’s finding the belief that she belongs in that group. She got a lot of experience playing tournaments over the summer and was our No. 1 all season. She now knows what she’s capable of every time she goes out on the course, and it doesn’t take anything special or miraculous. It’s her.”

The seniors on the team are Sydney Fluhrer, Prisha Dargan and Catalina Olivero. Emily Hanlon is a junior, Katherine Mazefsky is a sophomore and Marin Raupp is a freshman.

This will be the first trip to the team finals in Slimm’s six seasons as the Rams coach.

They plan to play a practice round at Cedarbrook beforehand.

The top two teams advance to the state tournament at Penn State.

“More than anything else, I think the moment isn’t too big for us,” Slimm said. “We have the opportunity to keep playing, and we have three seniors on the team that have been on the team since they were freshmen, and so the idea that we have the ability to keep the season going for them is a positive motivator for us. I’m looking forward to taking the girls down there and seeing them compete.”

Jerin Steele is a freelance writer

Tags: Pine-Richland