What to watch for in WPIAL sports on Oct. 1, 2024: Top Class 3A golfers to tackle Oakmont

By: Don Rebel
Monday, September 30, 2024 | 10:30 PM

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Welcome to October, where the leaves turn colors, the mercury begins to dip and the high school sports regular season morphs into the fall postseason.

While the forecast is iffy, the top boys Class 3A golfers in the district will hit the links at the prestigious Oakmont Country Club for the final round of the 2024 WPIAL Class 3A individual golf championships.

Play will begin with Fox Chapel sophomore Carson Kittsley holding a slim one-stroke lead after shooting a 1-over-par 73 in the first round of the championships last week at the Southpointe Golf Club in Canonsburg.

Four golfers shot a 2-over 74 in the opening round and are one stroke back entering the final 18 holes. They are Peters Township senior Colton Lusk, Pine-Richland senior William Hilton, North Allegheny junior Ravi Desai and Baldwin sophomore Michael Quallich.

Rounding out the top nine were Plum senior Wes Lorish and Franklin Regional junior Colin Holt at 3-over 75, Pine-Richland senior Roger Williams at 4-over 76 and North Allegheny senior Christopher Hoffman at 5-over 77.

Six golfers sit at 6-over after shooting a first-round 78: Fox Chapel junior David DiGregory, Central Catholic senior Regan Logan, West Allegheny freshman Nico Ward, Central Catholic freshman Bailey Donahue, North Allegheny junior Preston Troiano and South Fayette junior Sam Bishop.

The top 14 finishers will qualify for the 2024 PIAA boys Class 3A golf individual championships later this month.

2-week warning

Tuesday marks the start of the final two weeks of section play in WPIAL boys soccer.

The battle for the top spot in Section 1-3A could go down to the wire, but some clarity could come Tuesday when Indiana (11-1) visits Mars (8-1-3).

Both teams only have one section loss, but the Little Indians are on top with more section wins at 8-1 while the Fightin’ Planets are 6-1-2.

Indiana suffered its only loss of the season when these two met on Sept. 5, 3-2 in double overtime. Since then, the Little Indians have won seven straight.

Mars is 3-1-1 in its last five section matches, but the Fightin’ Planets have now allowed a goal in five consecutive games.

Second half begins

Tuesday marks the start of the second half of section play for those district sections that have at least seven teams.

All of the other sections will start the second half Thursday.

One key matchup with a share of first place at stake is in Section 4-2A when Neshannock visits Ellwood City.

The Lancers sit alone in first place with a 6-1 record, one game ahead of the Wolverines at 5-2.

Ellwood City is coming off a loss to Riverside in its most recent section match last week.