QV’s Chris Tanabe Shoots Par, Wins WPIAL Boys AA Golf by 6

By: Bruce Markey
Wednesday, September 24, 2014 | 8:55 PM

Chris Tanabe of Quaker Valley was a cut above the rest on Wednesday, as he shot an even-par round of 72 to claim the 2014 WPIAL Boys’ Class AA Golf Championship at Youghiogheny County Club.

Tanabe, a sophomore, bested the second-place finishers by an incredible six strokes. After Tanabe finished tied for fourth with an 80 in the sectional round at Pittsburgh North Golf Course to qualify for the championship, he teed off with the eighth group. Tanabe struggled with a bogey on his first hole, but then scorched the course in McKeesport the rest of the way, shooting 36 on each the front and back-nine holes.

Wes Keeling of South Fayette and Laurel’s Evan Long shared second-place honors, as they each scored a six-over 78. Anthony Muscato of Sewickley Academy followed with a 79, as only four players cracked the 80-stroke mark.

Of the 57 participants on Wednesday, 16 qualified for the PIAA Western Regional Round, including a trio from Burgettstown. Other qualifiers for that event included Austin Lis of Burgettstown, Nick Licata of Valley, Carmichaels’ Liam Shea, Ryan Koenig of Eden Christian, Sam Smallhover of Bishop Canevin, Burgettstown’s Cody Dobbin, Carter Ehms of Eden Christian, Sewickley Academy’s Jason Li, Tyler Kuntz of Beth Center, Alex Tanabe, the older brother of champion Chris Tanabe, also of Quaker Valley, and Hunter Lecker, of Burgettstown. The final qualifying spot was determined by a five-golfer sudden death playoff, which Neshannock’s Carmen Oliva captured with a par on the second hole of the playoff.

Shenango’s Paul Turco will serve as the alternate if any of the top 16 qualifiers cannot compete in the regional event, which will be held on Oct. 14 at Tom’s Run Golf Course in Blairsville.

Watch 2014 WPIAL Class AA Boys Golf champion Chris Tanabe talk about his victory.

WPIAL Boys’ Class AA Individual Golf Championship Scoreboard:

Chris Tanabe (Quaker Valley) – 72

Wes Keeling (South Fayette) – 78

Evan Long (Laurel) – 78

Anthony Muscato (Sewickley Academy) – 79

Austin Lis (Burgettstown) – 81

Nick Licata (Valley) – 81

Liam Shea (Carmichaels) – 81

Ryan Koenig (Eden Christian) – 81

Sam Smallhover (Bishop Canevin) – 82

Cody Dobbin (Burgettstown) – 82

Carter Ehms (Eden Christian) – 82

Jason Li (Sewickley Academy) – 82

Tyler Kuntz (Beth Center) – 82

Alex Tanabe (Quaker Valley) – 82

Hunter Lecker (Burgettstown) – 82

*Carmen Olivia (Neshannock) – 83

**Paul Turco (Shenango) – 83

Will Robinson (Winchester Thurston) – 83

Sam Sauter (Sewickley Academy) – 83

Noah Spang (Kittanning) – 84

Mike Kondratik (Charleroi) – 84

Josh Short (Keystone Oaks) – 86

Max Hammel (Sewickley Academy) – 86

Chris Egbert (Neshannock) – 86

Mike Orosz (Keystone Oaks) – 87

Zach Foltz (South Park) – 87

Colton Brown (Laurel) – 87

Patrick Baker (Freedom) – 87

Declan Hickton (Sewickley Academy) – 88

Jesse Cantley (Steel Valley) – 88

David Wilson (South Side Beaver) – 88

Christian Miller (Kittanning) – 89

Grant Barrachini (Beaver) – 89

Mike Rozzi (Neshannock) – 89

Jim Dolin (Seton LaSalle) – 89

Brady Crawford (Laurel) – 90

Joe Vecchio (Serra Catholic) – 90

Cameron Copeland (Serra Catholic) – 91

Matt Amber (California) – 93

Max Pollack (Winchester Thurston) – 93

Dan Bisi (Derry) – 94

Nick Finoli (Greensburg Central Catholic) – 94

Connor Roesing (Beaver) – 94

Jacob Crockett (Bentworth) – 95

Joe Sherbondy (Mount Pleasant) – 96

Alex DuBois (Beaver) – 97

Phil Lockhart (Southmoreland) – 98

Noah Kunst (Kittanning) – 99

Nick Horvath (Beaver Falls) – 99

Cole Davis (Kittanning) – 100

Joel Rohanna (Waynesburg) – 100

Jordan Bogucki (Carmichaels) – 102

Casey Jones (South Side Beaver) – 104

Kole Thomas (Derry) – 106

Bob Piskor (St. Joseph) – 108

Zach Adamczyk (Laurel) – 112

* Qualified via sudden death playoff hole

** Alternate via sudden death playoff hole