HOLLIDAYSBURG - Tyrone's Gregory Ferguson found himself in a District 6 boys golf playoff for the second consecutive year at Scotch Valley Country Club Wednesday.
The difference this season was that Ferguson was playing for seeding purposes at the PIAA Western Regional rather than the final spot.
"It felt a lot better knowing I was already in no matter what," Ferguson said.
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Mirror photo by J.D. Cavrich
Tyrone’s Greg Ferguson hits onto the No. 7 green from the fairway Wednesday.
The Tyrone junior finished the tournament strong, carding a second-round 75, after a disappointing 79 Tuesday that left Ferguson on the outside looking in for a regional spot heading into Wednesday's round.
Ferguson's total of 154 tied him with Mifflin County's Jeremy Koller and Westmont Hilltop's Pat Lennon for third place behind Richland's Brady Moran and District 6 champion Max Kirsch of Central Cambria. Ferguson bested the pair in the playoff to enter the Western Regional seeded third.
"I knew I had nothing to lose starting the day," Ferguson said. "I knew I'm capable of advancing and that I should advance. I came out and made some putts and got through."
Fact Box
Girls tournament
The District 6 Girls Golf Tournament will be held at 10 a.m. today at the Penn State White Course in University Park.
The competitors will play 18 holes to decide a champion after having Wednesday's competition postponed.
It didn't look good early for Ferguson. The Golden Eagle recorded a double bogey on the first hole and a bogey on the par-3 second before recovering to shoot even par the rest of the day.
"I kind of played my way out of any chance of winning yesterday," Ferguson said. "I'm happy just moving on after that, and I want to try and advance through regionals."
Ferguson's move into the top six Wednesday helped push out Bellwood-Antis' Jacob Pearson, who had been tied for fifth after one day by shooting a first-round 78.
Pearson shot an 89 Wednesday to finish tied for 14th.
Hollidaysburg's Jared Wood just missed becoming the second alternate for regionals, taking ninth place with a 161, and fellow Golden Tiger Jordan Kirsch took 10th with a 164.
Tyler Brown of Claysburg-Kimmel (11th), Ed Maruca of Central Cambria (12th), Sam Stevens of Central Cambria (17th), Ben Wyland of Altoona (17th) and Jeff Vasilko of Bishop Carroll (22nd) rounded out the area finishers.
Hollidaysburg (668) finished tied for third as a team with Mifflin County behind champion Central Cambria (655) and runner-up State College (655).
