Riverview golfers challenge for postseason berth

By: Michael Love
Saturday, September 20, 2025 | 11:01 AM

A youthful Riverview golf team challenged Freeport and Deer Lakes the past month for a berth in the WPIAL Class 2A team playoffs.

The Raiders fell one win short of their playoff goal, but coach Hal Biehl said there are so many positives to take away from the run, and that the team’s future is bright.

“They really went out each match and showed that they were ready for the challenges in the section,” Biehl said.

“Their hard work paid off in some really nice individual and team scores.”

Riverview carded its lowest team score of the season (193) in defeating Leechburg in its section finale Sept. 16 at the Links at Spring Church in Apollo.

The 193-268 win was fronted by the golfing of junior Ian Stempfer who fired a 2-under round of 34 for nine holes.

Junior Rex Roberts and sophomore Lucas Bauer added rounds of 36 and 38, respectively.

“I was ecstatic for them to hit that mark,” Biehl said. “They were playing really well.”

The win over Leechburg came four days after the Raiders posted their previous low score, a 197, in a victory over Valley at Buffalo Golf Course.

Freshman Jack Quinlan (42) and Ben Quinlan (43) rounded out the scoring for the Raiders who finished section play at 9-3, one win behind Deer Lakes (10-2) and two behind section champion Freeport (11-1).

Freeport and Deer Lakes picked up the two WPIAL playoff spots from the section.

Riverview helped its cause in its attempt to make the playoffs with a 209-224 win over Deer Lakes on Aug. 13 at Green Oaks Country Club behind a 37 from Stempfer and a 38 from Roberts.

“The boys played in unison,” Biehl said. “They knew the stakes, even that early in the season. They felt comfortable playing on their home course. It was a goal to win that match because last year, we played Deer Lakes at home and lost.”

The Lancers, however, would win the Sept. 2 rematch at Pheasant Ridge Golf Club, 201-215, to move ahead of the Raiders in the standings.

A week later, Deer Lakes and Freeport went head to head for the second time. Riverview needed the Yellowjackets to defeat the Lancers to keep their playoff hopes alive.

But Deer Lakes edged Freeport, 195-197, at Pheasant Ridge.

“That was a heartbreaker,” Biehl said.

Biehl said the matches with Freeport this year were competitive

“Freeport is always a powerhouse,” he said. “They have incredible depth. We knew that they were the team to beat. We played them at Green Oaks and lost by five strokes. One stroke per man and we could’ve tied it. An extra stroke and we could’ve won it.”

Freeport won by 18 strokes at Buffalo Golf Course.

Biehl said he was excited to see 17 players, including five girls, sign up for the golf team this year.

“In years past, I struggled to pull eight players for a team,” he said.

“I think it was a combination of the U.S. Open being in town this summer and a lot of the players who were hearing the successes of the core group, and they wanted to be part of something winning. With the five girls, it was the first time I had girls come out for the team. They played some over the summer, and a lot of them are just learning the game. Some of them had a little bit of experience when they were younger, and they wanted to get back into it.”

The final home match at Green Oaks Country Club, a 228-245 section win over St. Joseph, was senior night, and the team’s lone senior, Alya Rafferty, was honored for her dedication to the program.

“With her being a senior, I wanted to make sure she got into the lineup a little bit and show what she could do,” Biehl said of the former Raiders volleyball player.

“Even though her scores and averages didn’t come into the mix with the core guys who kind of carried the team, she showed a lot of improvement. We were happy to honor her and recognize her leadership.”

Biehl said that with the foundation of the five girls on this year’s team, several of them wanting to try golf after years of playing volleyball, there is hope of establishing a full girls golf team at Riverview.

Riverview golfers fared well at the individual WPIAL section qualifier Sept. 15 at 3 Lakes Golf Couse in Penn Hills.

Stempfer (75), Roberts (75) and junior Crosby Laughrey (81) advanced to the next round at Hillcrest Country Club.

Monday’s Class 2A first round was to be contested past the deadline for this week’s edition. The 2A championship tournament will be this Tuesday (Sept. 30) at Valleybrook Country Club in McMurray.

“It was a fantastic day,” Biehl said of his players’ performances at the section qualifier.

“I’ve been coaching for about 20 years, and it was the first time three (from Riverview) moved on from the qualifier. They worked their tails off in the summer. They love to golf, and they did whatever they could to improve their games.”

Biehl said Stempfer, Roberts, Laughrey and Bauer have done a nice job of pulling the team together and building excitement for the future.

“The core four, all they do is play golf,” Biehl said.

“They are constantly working on their games. They love the game, and that is contagious for the rest of the team. Four freshmen were rotating through the five and six spots. They fed off that enthusiasm. With just the one senior, we have a nice group coming back for next year.”

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

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