Riverside’s Hand fires 63 to win MAC boys golf title

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, September 19, 2018 | 6:18 PM

Riverside junior Justin Hand had a round of a lifetime on Wednesday at the Midwestern Athletic Conference golf championship.

Hand shot 9-under par 63 to breeze to the individual title and help Riverside to the team title at Fox Run Golf Course in Beaver County.

He had two eagles, eight birdies and three boegys during his round. The eagles were on the fifth and 10th holes, both par 5s. He sank a long putt on the 10th hole from the fringe.

“It was a very special day,” Hand said. “I grew up playing at the course, and I learned a lot from Max Mesing. He was my first coach and a big influence in my life. I know he was with me during the round.”

Mesing, who was 71 and golf owner/director at two golf courses, died after a battle with cancer in early August.

Hand, 16, said he felt good on the range, but it wasn’t until a birdie on No. 4 and the eagle on No. 5 that got him started.

“It was a shotgun start, and we started on No. 2,” Hand said. “I stuck a wedge to 4 feet on No. 4 and hit a 5-iron to 5 feet on No. 5. That built my confidence.

“I was standing on No. 12 at 6-under and during a long wait I started thinking about my round. I proceeded to bogey the next two holes and then recovered and made a bunch of birdies my final five holes.”

This came a day after Hand qualified for the WPIAL Class AA individual championship on Sept. 27 at Allegheny Country Club by shooting a 3-over 75 at Sylvan Heights Golf Course.

He placed 11th in the WPIAL in 2017, sixth at the West Regional at Tom’s RUn and ninth in the state.

“My goal is to keep improving,” Hand said. “I want to get higher on the podium.”

Teammate Skyler Fox tied for second with Laurel’s Matt Mincher, each shooting a 3-under 69. Fox shot a 68 at Sylvan Heights.

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

Tags: Riverside