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Area 9 have regionals standing in way of states

By Michael Boytim

mboytim@altoonamirror.com

Nine area golfers will try to advance to the PIAA high school golf championships when they participate in the Western Regional this morning at Tom’s Run in Blairsville.

There’s a mix of players who have experience on the course and some who played it for the first time during practice rounds this week.

Tyrone’s Andrew Ferguson is the only area player who has advanced past this round before, but he also knows how tough it can be. Ferguson made regionals as a freshman and sophomore but didn’t advance either year. Two years ago, he lost a playoff for the final spot.

“At Tom’s Run, I want to have a good round where I shoot mid-to-low 70s,” Ferguson said. “Wherever that puts me, it’s OK. I just want to get through to states.”

The only district champion in the group is Philipsburg-Osceola’s Halle Herrington. Herrington shot a 95 at regionals last year and missed out on advancing by one stroke. This is Herrington’s third time playing in the Western Regional.

“I definitely want to make states,” Herrington said. “I’d like to finish in the top three at regionals. I know the course pretty well by now, I think.”

Eleven of the 21-girl field will advance to states, and 22 of the 44 Class 2A boys will move on to York’s Heritage Hills Golf Resort. In Class 3A boys, where Altoona’s Derek McAlkich will be competing for the second straight year, 10 of the 20 competitors will advance.

Central Cambria’s Jaylee Sikora also played at regionals last year after winning districts but struggled and shot a 102. Her teammate, Sadee LaRose, will also be part of the Class 2A girls field.

“I had exposure to the course,” Sikora said. “I feel like that will help me do a lot better this year.”

Four other players from the Mirror’s coverage area will be competing in the Class 2A boys competition. One of them, Northern Cambria’s Tanner Pershing, has had plenty of success in the area and was named to the first team of the Mirror’s All-Star squad a year ago.

Pershing shot a 74 at districts to earn his first trip to regionals.

“You have to hit the fairways, because it’s a pretty tight course,” Pershing said. “There’s a lot of trouble you can get into if you don’t keep it in the fairway.”

Joining him will be Bedford’s Jared Turner, Penn Cambria’s Collin Reese and Huntingdon’s Luke Thompson.

“I’ve played (Tom’s Run) once,” Reese said. “I just want to play my best, and whatever happens, happens.”

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