Mirror photo by Michael Boytim Hollidaysburg freshman Crosby Denis tees off on No. 7 at the state tournament.

By Michael Boytim

mboytim@altoonamirror.com

STATE COLLEGE — Some of the area’s best high school golfers wrapped up their careers Tuesday at the Penn State Golf Courses, and a couple others laid a foundation for a bright future.

Tyrone senior R.J. Royer, who is a Williamsburg student playing with the Golden Eagles through a golf co-op, rebounded from a first-round 78 to contend for a top-10 finish and a medal on Tuesday before making a bogey on his last two holes and settling for a tie for 23rd.

“My expectations were to try and make top 10, even though it was a little unreasonable, but being better than yesterday was the goal,” Royer said. “I was pretty happy after a disappointing day yesterday.”

Royer’s day started on the par 5 10th hole, and he holed his third shot for an eagle.

“That was ridiculous,” Royer said. “Just dropping it in from like 50 yards out always makes you feel pretty good.”

Royer climbed as high as 15th on the leaderboard before the final two holes.

The senior ended his career back at states after missing them last season. Tyrone won the District 6 Class 2A team title and beat Bedford in a PIAA regional to make states as a team two years ago with Royer on the squad.

“I have a lot of great memories,” Royer said. “Probably winning districts and going to states as a team my sophomore year was a good one, traveling down as a team and staying in the hotel was fun.”

This year’s District 6 champion was Central, and two Scarlet Dragons also wrapped up stellar careers on Tuesday.

Griffin Snowberger tied for 35th after shooting rounds of 77 on Monday and 79 on Tuesday, and Nick Baum tied for 53rd with rounds of 80 and 82.

“I didn’t have my best game here over the past few days, but it was an honor to compete against the best golfers in the state,” Snowberger said. “It’s been a great four years of high school golf, and I’m very proud of my accomplishments and the accomplishments of my team. I’m looking forward to competing at the next level.”

Bedford’s Josh Topper finished tied for 25th at 10-over par for the tournament, and Northern Cambria’s Brady Houser was tied for 44th at 14-over par.

Wyoming Seminary’s Nick Werner won the PIAA Class 2A boys championship with a 6-under par finish, and West Shamokin’s Alex Talmadge, who won the District 6 title, earned a medal by tying for ninth place with back-to-back rounds of 73.

Two Hollidaysburg golfers competed in Class 3A and hope this week is the start of an even better future.

Junior Isaac Miller bounced back after an uncharacteristic 89 on Monday with a 78 on Tuesday and finished 71st in the Class 3A boys field that was won by Butler’s Hunter Swidzinski.

“It was nothing like I have ever been to before. It was very cool,” Miller said. “I just tried to absorb being here and focus on coming here again. I want to get better, get here again and do a better job.”

Swidzinski shot an incredible 8-under par 64 on Tuesday, including an eagle on the final hole to force a three-way playoff with Penn Trafford’s Nick Turowski and Plum’s Wes Lorish, and then won the playoff and the title.

State College’s Max Wager earned a sixth-place medal with a score of 5-under par and rounds of 68 and 71.

In 3A girls, Hollidaysburg freshman Crosby Denis finished tied for 22nd with scores of 82 and 81.

“The first day I was so nervous, and I thought it was going to be a really tense atmosphere and the girls would be so locked in and not talk to anybody,” Denis said. “I got there, and my group was so nice. They were talking to me and making jokes the whole time. It was a really amazing experience for my first time playing in this, and I shot a round, 82, I was really happy with. It’s definitely not my best, and I could have shot better, but I’m really proud of myself that I did that at states.”

Denis had a busy fall, winning the District 6 girls golf championship, the District 6 Class 3A doubles tennis championship with Megan Ferris and the District 6 Class 3A team tennis championship with her Hollidaysburg teammates.

“If anything, it was better than I even expected going between both,” Denis said. “I had double the amount of teammates supporting me, and I had fun in both sports. It was great. I definitely want to keep playing golf and tennis.”

Denis believes her golf game can get even better.

“I just need to get longer and more confident,” Denis said. “I have to be comfortable with my shots and not be scared to hit shots I could do well on.”

Plymouth Whitemarsh’s Rhianna Gooneratne won the 3A girls championship with a 4-under par score.

In Class 2A girls, North East’s Anna Swan won the state title with a 1-under score, and District 6 champion Maddie Koshko of Saint Joseph’s earned a fifth-place medal with back-to-back rounds of 74.