Westmoreland H.S. notebook: P-T golfer Nick Turowski can join exclusive company with win

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Sunday, October 1, 2023 | 5:15 PM

Purchase Photo Options

Penn-Trafford senior Nick Turowski is primed to become a two-time WPIAL golf champion.

And if he wins Monday, he will join elite company.

Turowski would become just the second two-time winner from Westmoreland County. He could live like a King for a day.

Latrobe’s Arnold Palmer won back-to-back titles in 1946 and ‘47.

Turowski, the first-round leader, will tee it up the final round of the 3A championship at Valley Brook Country Club in McMurray.

The 2021 champion and West Virginia commit shot 72 in the opening 18 holes last week at Latrobe Country Club.

He leads Upper St. Clair junior Connor McKenzie (73) by a shot.

Other local names in the 36-player field include sophomore Jack Sacriponte of Latrobe (79), Hempfield senior Caden Biondi (81), senior Alex Graham of Norwin (81), Latrobe sophomore Parker Berk (81) and Franklin Regional sophomore Dylan Mauser (82).

The Class 2A boys championship also will conclude Monday with the final 18 holes at Butler Country Club.

Ethan Dai, a junior from Quaker Valley, leads after shooting a 3-under 69 at Willowbrook Country Club.

Sophomore Jordan Mocello of Belle Vernon (73), senior Rogan Maloney of Belle Vernon (76), junior Ryan Karfelt of Mt. Pleasant (79), junior Seth Tomalski of Belle Vernon (79), senior John Bellisimo of Belle Vernon (80), sophomore Tyler Jones of Ligonier Valley (80), junior Braden Riley (81) and senior Mike Mulaney (81) of Greensburg Central Catholic, and junior Tucker Bitar of Burrell (84) are the local players in the field.

Westmoreland County has produced champions in back-to-back years with Hunter Jurica of Derry winning 2A last fall at storied Oakmont.

Girls golf championships

Five local players will compete in the WPIAL girls golf championships Wednesday at Diamond Run Golf Club in Sewickley.

The 26-player Class 3A field includes Franklin Regional senior Ali Boyle (87), Penn-Trafford senior Antolena D’Amico (94) and Franklin Regional sophomore Gianna Johnson (96).

Sophomore Ellie Benson of Peters Township is the Class 3A leader at 1-over 73.

Two Greensburg Central Catholic players, sophomore Alayna Stawovy (91) and freshman Kennedy Kelly (112), are in the Class 2A tournament, which has only seven girls.

Sophomore Pearl Lungren of Eden Christian has the lead at 11-over 83.

The last WPIAL girls champion from Westmoreland County was Olivia Zambruno of Greensburg Central Catholic, who won in 2014 and ’15.

Par 4 the course

If Turowski was nothing else in the first round of the WPIAL 3A championship, he was sharply consistent.

The long-hitting Turowski, who shot an even-par 72 at Latrobe Country Club, made a 4 on every hole he played.

That means be birdied the four par 5s but offset that success with bogeys on the four par 3s.

Hempfield’s Murray offered

Hempfield track and field thrower Peyton Murray added a second Division I scholarship offer from a major program.

Iowa offered the senior shot put and discus specialist, joining Indiana as schools courting Murray.

GCC’s Morgan picks Cal (Pa.)

Greensburg Central Catholic basketball standout Mya Morgan committed to play at Cal (Pa.) of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.

Morgan, who averaged 16.7 points last season as GCC reached the PIAA semifinals and WPIAL quarterfinals in 2A, chose the Vulcans over other Division II offers from Lake Erie and Wheeling.

Mount Union and John Carroll, Division III programs, also recruited her.

Volleyball honors

Three area players were lauded by the Western Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association.

Senior middle hitter Amarah McCutcheon of Southmoreland and junior middle hitter Pyper Ferres of Burrell were named Class 2A players of the week.

Sophomore hitter Ashley Black of Greensburg Central Catholic was tabbed a player of the week in Class A.

Recruiting updates

Norwin senior baseball player Keegan Carr will continue playing at IUP of the PSAC.

Carr, a middle infielder, was a first-team all-section pick last season.

• Norwin soccer midfielder Alex Brown announced he will play at Penn State Behrend.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Franklin Regional, Greensburg C.C., Hempfield, Jeannette, Latrobe, Norwin, Penn-Trafford, Southmoreland