For the past two years , the PT varsity girls golf team has been a force to be reckoned with . In 2020 , they won the Western Pennsylvania
Interscholastic Athletic League ( WPIAL ) Championship and finished second in the state PIAA team tournament .
This year , the team was second in the WPIAL Championships and repeated their second-place finish at the PIAA Team Championships , but this time they closed the gap by finishing just two strokes out of first place !
Senior Delaney Kern shot a 71 ( one under par ) to help lead the girls in the state competition . Senior Allison Poon was strong in the team tournament , but also qualified for the state individual tournament , finishing with an impressive 6th-place finish .
Delaney and Allison stepped up to the challenge as team leaders this year while ninth graders Sophia Severns , Gabby Catalogna and Brooke Vowcheck were welcome additions , plus there were solid performances by sophomore Amelia Severns and junior Yunjoe ( Anne ) Chang .
Coach Mike Lacey , who had served as the junior varsity assistant coach for the last four years , saw his first year as varsity coach . Lacey is an avid golfer himself and has played in a friendly golf league for the past 30 years . He explains why the game is so uniquely challenging :
“ It ’ s a thinking game . You have to be able to think your way around the course . You have to think ahead of the shots and have a contingency plan for every possible outcome of a shot .”
Besides having a talent for strategy , the girls also displayed incredible focus this year . “ We ’ ll play 180 shots for each match , and yet the difference between winning and losing may only come down to one or two shots ,” says Lacey . “ You really have to maintain your focus throughout the game for every shot .” The girls also have to be able to play with a certain amount of independence . Unlike other sports , such as basketball where the coach may be able to shout advice from courtside , golf coaches are not allowed to offer advice in competitive high school golf . Although the two team players can talk with each other , the coach is not allowed to speak to the players regarding their strategy while on the hole . After the hole has been played , coaches can lend advice on correctable problems , such as their
Allison Poon in her follow-through at the 2021 PIAA Individual State Championship at Heritage Hills Golf Course in York , where she finished in a tie for 6th place .
Allison Poon and Delaney Kern holding the 2021 PIAA Team Runner-Up trophy on the 18th hole at Heritage Hills Golf Course in York , PA . These two senior girls built a tradition of excellence by compiling a 48-7 match record over their four years , including a WPIAL Championship ( 2020 ), WPIAL Runner-Up trophy ( 2021 ), and two consecutive PIAA Team Runner-Up trophies ( 2020 and 2021 ).
swing , as the players walk to the next hole . They are also allowed to give advice on general information on the upcoming hole , and wind direction .
This means the girls have to use their own judgment when it comes to reading the greens and deciding what to do in unfavorable situations , such as landing in a sand trap . They have to be able to think well on their feet . Lacey adds , “ They learn to overcome adversity .”
They also have to be physically fit , since they are not allowed to use carts and there is a massive amount of walking while carrying a bag of clubs .
Another interesting feature of high school golf is that it calls for a high degree of integrity . There ’ s no referee watching players ’ every move . If there ’ s a penalty , they have to call it on themselves . It requires that the girls do the right thing and display great sportsmanship .
If you ’ d like to be part of the team , Lacey says that there is a tryout , but in his four years he hasn ’ t seen anyone cut .
“ The JV team is for learning the skills of the game ,” he notes . “ We ’ ve had girls who have never played before .” So girls who would like to learn to play golf should not hesitate because they ’ re new to the game .
For younger girls ( grades 3 through 7 ), the PT girls golf team , along with Coach Lacey , run a golf clinic every June at the Valley Brook Country Club , which includes four days of instruction . ( Proceeds from the clinic go toward golf uniforms and bags for the team .)
The Peters Township girls displayed skilled athleticism and team spirit this year . Their strong performance is building a tradition of excellence at PTHS . n
PETERS TOWNSHIP ❘ DECEMBER 2021 / JANUARY 2022 43