Trib HSSN rewind: A look back at the 2018 boys golf season

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Monday, July 1, 2019 | 12:03 AM

Sewickley Academy has set the standard in WPIAL boys golf.

The Panthers won an unprecedented sixth consecutive district team championship last fall to pace a series of repeat performances in the WPIAL postseason. Dynasties continued on the links.

Turtle Creek had the boys record for consecutive team titles, winning five from 1934-38. That was until Sewickley Academy, led by Landen Shirley’s 76, made it a half-dozen titles in a row at Cedarbrook with another Class AA trophy.

Central Catholic, meantime, made it a WPIAL three-peat with a victory on Class AAA. WPIAL Class AAA individual champion Jimmy Meyers (71) and runner-up Neal Shipley (70) paced the Vikings to a course record-score of 372, breaking the program’s own mark from 2016.

⁦@CCHS_golfteam⁩ makes it a 3 PEAT!! 2018 AAA WPIAL Champions! #3PEAT #Rollvikes #traditionnevergraduates pic.twitter.com/JLz2rP5XL3

— Pittsburgh Central Catholic Varsity Golf Team (@CCHS_golfteam) October 11, 2018

Central carried momentum into the PIAA tournament and captured a state title, shooting a 16-over 300 at Heritage Hills Resort in York.

@CCHS_golfteam …YOUR 2018 PIAA AAA STATE CHAMPIONS! #goalrrached #statechamps #pressueisaprivledge @centralvikings #traditionnevergraduates pic.twitter.com/xT7y5kszpy

— Pittsburgh Central Catholic Varsity Golf Team (@CCHS_golfteam) October 24, 2018

On the individual side, repeats also were prominent.

Riverside’s Skyler Fox put himself into a position to be the WPIAL’s first four-time champion in boys golf after winning a third straight title.

Fox made a key birdie on hole 16 to shoot 2-under 68 and edge past Elizabeth Forward’s Angus McHolme (69) at Allegheny Country Club. Fox became the first boys golfer since Fox Chapel’s Frank Fuhrer III (1974-76) and third in WPIAL history to take three consecutive titles. The first was Brentwood’s Ron Schwarzel (1952-54).

.@TribLiveHSSN Riverside's Skyler Fox reacts to sinking a birdie put on the 16th green and after his par putt to capture his third consecutive WPIAL boys AA individual Championship at Allegheny Country Club. pic.twitter.com/no9bgu8rad

— Charles Palla (@ChazPalla) September 27, 2018

In Class AAA, Meyers of Central Catholic held off a strong field on a vintage layout — Oakmont Country Club — to take home a title. Meyers shot even-par 70 to finish ahead of Shipley (75) and strong contenders Palmer Jackson of Franklin Regional (75) and Latrobe’s Brady Pevarnik (76).

Central Catholic's Jimmy Meyers (left) and Neal Shipley finished 1-2 at the #WPIAL AAA golf championship. @TribHSInsider @TribLiveHSSN @TribSports @Schofield_Trib @schofield_jp pic.twitter.com/E0VT4w9jKc

— JP Schofield (@schofield_jp) October 3, 2018

Central Catholic’s Jimmy Meyers holds a 2 stroke lead after his 18 holes at Oakmont Country Club during the #WPIAL Class AAA boys golf championship Tuesday. Play was suspended by weather and will resume in the morning. #TribHSSN ?: @Hornerfoto1 pic.twitter.com/QHHwslX9Jr

— Trib HS Insider (@TribHSInsider) October 3, 2018

After claiming medalist honors at the PIAA Western Regional, Jackson went in to win a state championship in York. Jackson is headed to Notre Dame, while Meyers and Pevarnik will play at Penn State.

Congratulations again to Palmer Jackson and coach Jeff Traphagen on winning the gold medal at the PIAA state golf championship! pic.twitter.com/qRU0DHXkd7

— FR Panther Sports (@FRPantherSports) October 24, 2018

Palmer Jackson earns his third top-ten finish in three years at the PIAA Boys AAA Championships. pic.twitter.com/Utct5tErBy

— FR Panthers Golf (@FRPanthersGolf) October 25, 2017

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Central Catholic, Franklin Regional, Riverside, Sewickley Academy