Makenna Kamnikar wraps up memorable golf career at Quaker Valley

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, November 16, 2025 | 11:01 AM

Makenna Kamnikar was a member of the Quaker Valley boys golf team all four years of high school.

“This season is really important to me as it’s my senior season so I’m going into it with a positive mindset,” Kamnikar said prior to the start of QV’s fall golf schedule. “I’m excited to play my best golf yet.

“I think my game is the strongest it’s ever been. I have a stronger mindset, and I’m really excited to get to compete.”

Kamnikar capped her scholastic career by finishing 20th at the PIAA Class 2A finals at Penn State with a total gross score of 169. The senior shot an 82 in the first round and an 87 in the final round.

“Makenna has had a great career at Quaker Valley,” said Greg Vecchi, the Quakers’ golf coach. “Not many girls in the area have started for successful boys teams three years straight. She did that and nothing fazed her.

“I just appreciate all of the care she gave towards the team over her four years. She was always ready to go and never needed anything since she was always so independent and handled everything maturely. That’s just great to see from a young person such as Makenna.”

Kamnikar also competes on the QV girls swim team in the winter months.

“I’m planning to swim again while balancing offseason golf work at my coach’s program, Kuhn Golf Academy,” she said.

Kamnikar’s improvements in her 2025 golf season were apparent on the course and in her scores. She averaged 40.5 for nine holes during the regular season, compared to last year’s 44.7 average.

“Makenna improved from last year and had a strong senior season,” Vecchi said. “As usual, Makenna put 100% into her game and this team. If she would be having trouble with a particular part of her game, she would seek help with it.

“She finished 20th in Class 2A in the state. We know she had the ability to place higher, but golf has a way sometimes of keeping a golfer’s game down at times.”

Consistency off the tee is one of the strengths of Kamnikar’s golf game.

“Makenna is good in every facet,” Vecchi said, “but her driving accuracy really stood out to me, and others. She rarely was in any sort of trouble off of her drive.

“What I like about Makenna’s game is that she keeps her head in it no matter what happens. If she’s frustrated, you wouldn’t know it because she keeps forging on. She is steady in good or bad times, which every successful golfer has to be.”

Kamnikar recorded a third-place finish in the MAC tournament in September that included girls from Class 2A and 3A schools.

She qualified for the state playoffs by placing seventh at the WPIAL finals with an 87-88—175 score.

The championship round took place Oct. 1 at Sewickley Heights Golf Club and Kamnikar was one of only four girls that shot in the 30s on the front nine. She recorded back-to-back birdies on No. 6 and 7.

Both Makenna and her brother Joseph, a sophomore and second-year varsity player at QV, participated in nine tournaments on the PGA Tri-State Junior Tour over the summer.

Makenna placed in the top three seven times, including a first-place finish June 9 at the season-opening tournament at Ligonier Country Club.

She golfed in the girls 16-18 age division and won with an 8-over score on the par-70 course.

In fact, Makenna and Joseph both took home titles from Ligonier.

“Makenna had a great summer,” Vecchi said. “She’s dedicated, a good student under David Kuhn, and loves golf.”

Kamnikar finished second three times — including her runner-up performance June 24 at Sewickley Heights Golf Club — and third in three other events.

She placed second at the Highlands Golf Club tournament June 11 at Seven Springs Mountain Resort and at Latrobe Country Club.

“Makenna also won the junior club championship at Sewickley Heights,” Vecchi said.

Joseph Kamnikar captured his division championship at Ligonier with a 9-over score that included a birdie on the final hole. He edged Eli Brody from Cranberry Township by two strokes.

“My Tri-State season can be described with some of the best moments of my golf career and some of my most disappointing moments so far,” the younger Kamnikar sibling said.

The Kamnikars provide a valuable support system for each other on and off the links.

“It’s always so fun to play alongside my sister,” Joseph Kamnikar said. “She’s been by my side all my life through golf, school and other challenges. She influences me as a golfer and a person, but I would say we support each other instead of it being like a mentor and student relationship.

“We both started playing golf at the same time and grew our games together, so it’s more of us helping each other instead of one person leading the way. We push each other to become the best version of ourselves. I don’t know if I’d be in the same position I am in golf right now if I didn’t have her to push me to be better.”

The Kamnikars are the second brother-sister golf tandem Vecchi has coached at QV. The first were senior Aidan Bulger and freshman Eva Bulger in 2019.

Eva won the WPIAL girls championship that year and placed seventh in the state. Aidan finished fifth in the district playoffs and 21st in the state.

Tags: Quaker Valley