Golfers from State College, Saint Joe’s place in 2023 PIAA golf championships
The PIAA golf season is coming to a close and Centre County golfers left their mark on the PIAA State Golf Championships, which were held this week at Penn State’s golf courses.
The tournament started on Monday, and State College, Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy and Bellefonte athletes competed individually before the Little Lions played in the team portion of the event on Wednesday.
State College brought senior Max Wager to compete individually for the AAA boys. On the first day, Wager remained near par before going on a run in holes 12-15 — notching birdies in each set and finishing 4-under par.
On the second day, Wager had his fair share of birdies but ultimately finished 5-under par, slotting him in sixth place.
“Max is something special,” varsity assistant James Schaper said.
Wager had made the final putt en route to the team’s state title in 2021, but had a hard time in the tournament the following year. But Schaper said they knew he would work hard for his senior season and achieve big.
Bellefonte senior Isaak Bloom saw his best day of competition come in Round 1, where he finished 5-over par. Overall, Bloom finished at 17-over par, tying him for 48th place in the AA Boys division.
Sophomore Maddie Koshko represented Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy in the AA Girls portion of the tournament, and had identical days of competition, though the first day featured three birdies. She finished in fifth place.
“Maddie’s work ethic, focus and drive to be great is easily in the top five percentile among student-athletes with whom I have worked,” head coach Chad Walsh wrote in a statement to the Centre Daily Times. “I am so proud of her and feel lucky that she represents our program at this level.”
The State College team of Max Wager, freshman Luke McGraw, senior AJ Corson and sophomore Brady Wager competed on Wednesday. The group combined to end competition 13-over par, which earned them a fourth-place spot.
Schaper said his team was “not disappointed.”
“When you finish as one of the top teams in the state, that is saying something,” Schaper told the CDT. “The experience that some of our younger players gained playing in this type of event is invaluable.”
The star of the team portion was Max, who finished 5-under par with the rest of the squad finishing over par.
Bellefonte and St. Joe’s didn’t qualify to participate in the team portion, but Walsh thinks his bunch can make some noise in 2024 and change this.
“I’m excited about some potential new additions and continued growth of others,” Walsh said.
This story was originally published October 20, 2023 at 6:00 AM.