Here are the Centre County golfers who will compete at the PIAA state championships
Centre County golfers will be on full display as they compete in the PIAA golf state championships next week at the Penn State Golf Courses.
Class AA will play on the Blue Course on Monday and Tuesday in individual championships. Class AAA individuals will play on the White Course on the same days. Each class will compete in a 36-hole competition. Team championships will take place on Wednesday in an 18-hole competition. AA teams will play on the Blue Course and AAA teams will play on the White Course.
Here is a closer look at each Centre County golfer competing individually, along with the lone team competing in the PIAA golf state championships.
BOYS INDIVIDUALS
Tim Peters, Saint Joseph’s (AA)
Peters won another District 6 Class 2A boys championship on his way to competing once again for a state championship. The senior shot 76 (+5) on a par 71 to tie for sixth in the state. Now with his final opportunity to win an ever-coveted title for his school, he’s is yearning to make the Wolfpack proud.
“I am very excited for the state championship this year,” Peters wrote in an email. “Competing at the state level is a great opportunity and with it being so close to home I am very excited. I feel this year heading into the state championship I am progressing in the right direction. My ball striking, chipping and putting has been making huge strides recently and Monday can not come any sooner. I also think competing at the Blue Course has allowed me to make a well prepared way to attack the golf course.”
Isaac Bloom, Bellefonte (AAA)
Bellefonte head coach Kevin Harman has watched the junior golfer for quite a while, seeing him break down his swing and putting styles analytically — nearly down to an exact science. Harman expects that Bloom — a golfer since childhood — will continue to make the right decisions and prove his ability on the course.
“He’s been involved in tours and competitions all along,” Harman said. “Having him back next year as the leader of our team gives us a great start to being able to build some other young golfers into our program, but also helps the youth. He’s gone through this experience and it’ll pay great dividends with the lessons that he can teach others.”
Davis Corman, Bellefonte (AAA)
The senior didn’t golf much when he first joined the team and grew into the game. Corman has reaped the benefits of his hard work, making it to his first state championship tournament in his final season on the links at Bellefonte. Harman points to Corman’s work ethic as something for younger players to emulate.
“It’s just a classic example of what we can use to motivate other players to do the same,” Harman said.
GIRLS INDIVIDUALS
Madison Koshko, Saint Joseph’s (AA)
Saint Joseph’s head coach Chad Walsh talks about Koshko with excitement — saying the first-year golfer has the right demeanor and one that is beyond her years on the course. She plays her short game with precision, approaching the green with the accuracy and couth that one would see from a senior golfer. She became the first girl from Walsh’s tenure as head coach to qualify for a state championship competition.
He’s known Koshko and her family since her days at Our Lady of Victory and has followed what she’s done on the courses. Koshko shot 73 on a par 71 in the District 6 Class AA championship to win.
Walsh sees a bright future ahead of her, especially when former PGA Tour golfers have recognized her skills.
“It’s been really fun to coach her because she has such a focus and mind for it,” Walsh said. “She’s got a lot of experience playing in tournaments up and down the East Coast at such a young age. Just last week, she was at the Nick Faldo National Championship down in Florida and she got invited. She met Nick Faldo and got her picture with him, got his autograph and played in his tournament. She’s done that. She’s got that pedigree and we knew we had something special with her.”
BOYS TEAM
State College boys
State College won the PIAA AAA golf state championship last season in York. And on Friday, head coach Greg Wilson was named 2021 boys’ golf coach of the year by the PIAA. He gave credit to his assistant coach, Jim Schaper, who helped him get the program to its fourth straight District 6 Class 3A team championship.
“I am very proud of our team’s efforts and hard work that made this award even possible,” Wilson said in a written statement. “Jim is just as deserving of this as I am. It is nice to be recognized for the long days we put in to help make the kids successful.”
As for State College’s competing players, Max Wager (junior), Joey Sabol (senior), Luke Janac (senior), Thomas Hay (senior) and A.J. Corson (junior) and alternate Tanner Mona (senior) are set to take the White Course on Wednesday. Weger grew up playing on the Penn State courses with his dad teaching the Penn State PGM program, so it’ll be an added bonus for him to play on a course that he and the rest of his team are familiar with.
“Not having to travel, getting to sleep in their own beds, I think will be a nice advantage for us,” Wilson said. “All but Tanner competed last year in states and A.J., last year, was our alternate. He had a chance to play on the courses with the guys and he kind of has that experience too. Going in, it’s exciting to have that opportunity to repeat, especially since last year was the first year that a State College team qualified for a state tournament.
