Field can’t catch Moon’s Justin Scally at WPIAL Class AAA golf championships
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Tuesday, October 6, 2020 | 5:59 PM
Moon’s Justin Scally watches his tee shot on No. 13 during the WPIAL Class AAA boys golf championship on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020, at South Hills Country Club.
Moon’s Justin Scally celebrates with his family after winning the WPIAL Class AAA boys golf championship on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020, at South Hills Country Club.
Franklin Regional’s Chuck Tragesser lines up his putt on No. 12 during the WPIAL Class AAA golf championship Tuesday at South Hills Country Club.
Franklin Regional’s Chuck Tragesser hits his tee shot on No. 17 during the WPIAL Class AAA boys golf championship on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020, at South Hills Country Club.
Fox Chapel’s Eli Yofan connects on his tee shot on No. 17 during the WPIAL Class AAA boys golf championship Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020, at South Hills Country Club.
Belle Vernon’s Tyler Mocello hits his tee shot on No. 17 next to North Allegheny’s Adam Steinmetz during the WPIAL Class AAA boys golf championship on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020, at South Hills Country Club.
Fox Chapel’s Aidan Oehrle celebrates his eagle shot from the fairway on No. 18 during the WPIAL Class AAA boys golf championship Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020, at South Hills Country Club.
Moon’s Justin Scally eyes up his putt on No. 18 during the WPIAL Class AAA boys golf championship on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020, at South Hills Country Club.
Belle Vernon’s Tyler Mocello watches his tee shot on No. 13 during the WPIAL Class AAA boys golf championship on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020, at South Hills Country Club.
Upper St. Clair’s Jack Urban hits out of a bunker on No. 18 during the WPIAL Class AAA boys golf championship on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020, at South Hills Country Club.
Shady Side Academy’s Adam Lauer watches his tee shot on No. 17 during the WPIAL Class AAA boys golf championship on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020, at South Hills Country Club.
Central Catholic’s Rocco Salvitti watches his tee shot on No. 17 during the WPIAL Class AAA boys golf championship on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020, at South Hills Country Club.
Fox Chapel’s Aidan Oehrle hits from the fairway on No. 11 during the WPIAL Class AAA boys golf championship Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020, at South Hills Country Club.
Moon senior Justin Scally posted a low score early at Tuesday’s WPIAL Class AAA boys golf championship.
Then he sat around for an hour and a half, waiting to see if his 2-under-par 69 at South Hills Country Club would hold up. It did, as he watched Shady Side Academy senior Adam Lauer miss a potential tying 20-foot birdie putt on No. 18.
Lauer finished second at 1-under, and Central Catholic sophomore Rocco Salvitti was third at even.
“This means a lot,” Scally said. “I’ve been playing since I was 2 and playing tournaments since I was 7.”
Because of the coronavirus, the PIAA reduced the field for the state tournament. Only the top 10 finishers advance to York for a one-day tournament Oct. 19.
Others to advance were Upper St. Clair senior Jack Urban (3-over), Fox Chapel senior Aiden Oehrle (4-over), Franklin Regional senior Chuck Tragesser (4-over), Mars sophomore Blake Bertolo (5-over), Central Catholic junior Carter Pitcairn (5-over), Franklin Regional senior Michael Wareham (5-over) and Upper St. Clair senior Scott Jordan (5-over).
Oehrle avoided a playoff by chipping in from the fairway for eagle on No. 18.
Scally used three consecutive birdies on the back nine to kick-start his round, but instead of breezing to a win, he made it interesting with a double bogey on No 17.
Scally birdied No. 11 by sinking a 25-foot putt, and that shot gave him the jolt he needed.
While other golfers were battling the gusty winds, Scally was gaining confidence and didn’t let the winds bother him.
“That putt got me going,” Scally said. “I got confidence in my putting. I was feeling it after three birdies on a row.”
He parred No. 12 by making a 4-foot putt and then bombed a drive on No. 13 and ended up draining a downhill 10-foot putt.
“I was playing with confidence,” Scally said. “I played a practice round here on Sunday, and I decided to shoot away from trouble. I think I only hit three fairways (Tuesday).”
He added a birdie on No. 16 to go to 4-under, but he lost two strokes when he hit into the sand on No. 17.
“This was a big change from last year when I lost in a playoff,” Scally said. “My dad (Phil Scally Jr.) told me to play with confidence. Play like you’re the best player because you know you are.
“I’ve been practicing forever. I kept myself in play, and I trusted my swing. The key was hitting the ball in the right spot.”
Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.
Tags: Central Catholic, Fox Chapel, Franklin Regional, Mars, Moon, Shady Side Academy, Upper St. Clair
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