'A lucky shot' part of Union City golfer's first-place opening round at PIAA golf tournament
It was a blind shot onto the green, which meant Josh James never saw the end result.
Fortunately for the Union City golfer, he heard how it fared thanks to those with a clear view.
James, who competed in Monday's first round of the PIAA tournament, holed out for an eagle on the par-four 11th hole of Penn State University's Blue Course.
The senior, in his bid to repeat as the state's best Class 2A boys player, used a driver and a 60-degree wedge to finish his best hole.
“I couldn't see the (end of the) shot at all,” James said. “I had a little green to work with (for the pin's placement), but it was a lucky shot.”
Lucky or not, James is now one round away from repeating as a PIAA gold medalist. He posted a first-place round of 3-under par 69 despite overcast and windy conditions at the 36-hole golf facility in State College.
Nick Ciocca, a junior from District 12 Devon Prep, was one back of James at 2-under 70. There was a three-way tie for third place (1-under 71) between Wyoming Seminary's Nick Werner and Lake Lehman teammates Michael Lugiano and Cael Ropietski.
James nearly returned to the scorer's table with a second eagle during his back nine. He said he had an eagle putt lip out on the course's par-five 18th hole.
The District 10 titlist still sank the ensuing birdie putt, which concluded his back nine of 33.
“I felt good at the range (Monday) morning,” James said. “The first couple holes weren't good. The tee shots were rough, but my irons and putting helped me out.”
James said more appearances on the course's fairways during Tuesday's final round would help boost his odds of defending.
Should that happen, he'd be the district's first male golfer to win back-to-back PIAA tournaments since Barrett Melvin. The Franklin graduate was the state's inaugural champion in 1935, when an open-class format was used, and repeated in 1936.
Melvin died in 2004 at age 86. He played in 11 U.S. Opens and three PGA Championships, according to his Franklin hall of fame biography.
James said he's sought to dodge thoughts of matching what Melvin did at the dawn of the tournament.
“I know it's a big thing,” he said. “I just hope to have a solid (second) round and enjoy it.”
Jacob Wolak was the other district golfer in contention for a state medal after Monday's 18 holes. The Slippery Rock star, at even-par 72, was in a three-way tie for sixth place.
Swan seeks sister's state accomplishment
The top 10 golfers in each field will receive PIAA awards after Tuesday's closing round.
It's possible more than half of that total could be presented to Class 2A girls participants from northwestern Pennsylvania.
North East's Anna Swan, at 1-over 73, is one of six from the district in contention for that honor. The junior, a member of the Grapepickers' 2020 2A girls state title team, was second overall after Monday's play.
Hannah Rabb, a junior for District 4 Warrior Run, recorded the field's only red-number round with her 2-under 70.
Although Swan is well within striking distance of overtaking Rabb for the title, she was less than thrilled with her round. She returned to Penn State's range to work on some shots, particularly her approach shots.
"Not my favorite round," Swan said. "I had a lot of opportunities to score well, and I just didn't execute. I was pretty annoyed and frustrated after the round because I knew I wasn't in first and (second place) is not why I came here.
"I'm determined not to fall short again."
Swan seeks to become a PIAA team and individual golf champ. She also wants to join her older sister as a 2A girls individual victor.
It was 2019 when Lydia Swan became a district pioneer as D-10's first individual female winner of a state golf tournament. She's a freshman at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she's also a member of its Division I women's golf program.
Anna Swan is familiar with other names currently near the top of the PIAA 2A girls scoreboard.
Hickory junior Sasha Petrochko finished fourth with a 76. Luciana Masters, her sophomore teammate, and West Middlesex freshman Kate Sowers are tied for fifth with 77s.
Zoe Stern of Reynolds, who's in a tie for 10th at 82, rounds out the district's medal contenders.
Bogeys don't deter Cathedral Prep golfer
The state's Class 3A boys competed on Penn State's White Course.
It was there Breckin Taylor began his final competition as a Cathedral Prep Rambler.
Taylor remained in contention for a medal with his 1-over 73. However, bogeys on the 17th and 18th holes dropped the senior into a mammoth seven-way tie for 11th place.
Taylor still deemed his round a solid one.
“I probably hit 14 or 15 greens in regulation,” he said. “Those last two holes were just stupid mistakes (because of chips).”
Taylor also said he was aided by an early tee time. The wind wasn't as prevalent during the morning hours, which meant it didn't mess with club and shot selections as much over his front nine.
“It definitely started becoming a factor coming back in,” Taylor said. “(Tuesday's) weather also is supposed to impact a lot of scores. Guess we'll see what happens.”
Erie High's Kyle Westfall, the district's other golfer who qualified in the 3A boys field, opened with a 7-over 79.
D'Andrea lone 3A girls golfer
Erie High's Elizabeth D'Andrea was the district's lone representative in the large-school girls field. She managed a birdie during each nine during her round of 84.
Kayley Roberts, a freshman from District 1 Phoenixville, was the only player who cracked par. She birdied her last two holes for a 1-under 71.
Later start for last round
The PIAA announced Tuesday's tee times would begin one hour later than originally scheduled because of anticipated frost on the course. Play will now start at 9:30 a.m.
This week marks the return of the state golf tournament to State College since 2001. York's Heritage Hills Golf Resort hosted most of that competition over the ensuing two decades.
The one-round PIAA team golf tournament will take place Wednesday at Penn State. The 2A portion is scheduled on its Blue Course and 3A its White Course.
The Hickory Hornets vie to repeat as state titlists in the 2A girls field.
Contact Mike Copper at mcopper@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNcopper.
More:PIAA golf: Union City's Josh James seeks consecutive 2A titles, other D-10 golfers in mix
The overall leaders and District 10 results after the first round of the PIAA golf tournament at Penn State University's par-72 Blue and White Courses. The top 10 golfers with ties will receive medals after the second round:
Class 2A boys
Blue Course
1. Josh James, Union City 69
6. (three-way tie including) Jacob Wolak, Slippery Rock 72
30. (seven-way tie including) Will Fessler, Fairview 80
49. (five-way tie including) Nathan Feltmeyer, Fort LeBoeuf 83
54. (tie including) Cade Bender, West Middlesex 84
56. (seven-way tie including) Owen Kemp, North East 85
64. Joe Grundy, Saegertown 87
67. (tie including) Andrew Hatton, Iroquois 89
Class 2A girls
Blue Course
1. Hannah Rabb, Warrior Run 70
2. Anna Swan, North East 73
4. Sasha Petrochko, Hickory 76
5. (three-way tie including) Luciana Masters, Hickory, and Kate Sowers, West Middlesex 77
10. (tie including) Zoe Stern, Reynolds 82
20. (three-way tie including) AnnaMarie Zinram, Cathedral Prep 90
23. (three-way tie including) Katie Caryl, Mercyhurst Prep 91
Class 3A boys
White Course
1. Dylan Ramsey, Cedar Crest 67
11. (seven-way tie including) Breckin Taylor, Cathedral Prep 73
44. (five-way tie including) Kyle Westfall, Erie High 79
Class 3A girls
White Course
1 Kayley Roberts, Phoenixville 71
16 (six-way tie including) Elizabeth D'Andrea, Erie High 84
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Tee times for the final round of the PIAA golf tournament:
Class 2A boys
Blue Course
No. 1
9:40 a.m: Will Fessler, Fairview
10:50: Jacob Wolak, Slippery Rock
11: Josh James, Union City
No. 10
9:45 a.m: Andrew Hatton, Iroquois
9:55: Joe Grundy, Saegertown
10:05: Owen Kemp, North East
10:15: Nathan Feltmeyer, Fort LeBoeuf; Cade Bender, West Middlesex
Class 2A girls
Blue Course
No. 1
11:20 a.m: Zoe Stern, Reynolds
11:30: Luciana Masters, Hickory; Kate Sowers, West Middlesex
11:40: Anna Swan, North East; Sasha Petrochko, Hickory
No. 10
11:15 a.m: Katie Caryl, Mercyhurst Prep
11:25: AnnaMarie Zinram, Cathedral Prep
Class 3A boys
White Course
No. 1
10:30 a.m: Breckin Taylor, Cathedral Prep
No. 10
10:35 a.m: Kyle Westfall, Erie High
Class 3A girls
White Course
No. 1
11:10 a.m: Elizabeth D'Andrea, Erie High
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Union City's Josh James tops District 10 golfers at PIAA tournament
