Bobcat Golfers Claim 2022 Happy Valley Invitational Class AA Championship (Team Roster And Schedule Included At Bottom Of Article)

All images by Jackie Kerle: (Above) 2022 Happy Valley Invitational Class AA Champions (L-R) Coach Jay Kerle, Devon Lauer, Lucas Mitrosky, Kameron Kerle and McKayla Kerle

The Clarion Area Golf Team, followed up on their fine showing in this summer’s Great Lakes Junior Golf Tour, by claiming the 2022 Happy Valley Invitational Class AA Championship on Thursday, August 11th, on the Penn State Blue Course, in State College. The Bobcat foursome included Kameron Kerle, McKayla Kerle, Devon Lauer and Lucas Mitrosky.

The invitational, serves as a good tune-up for the Bobcats who begin Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference (KSAC) play, with a home Mega Match at Clarion Oaks on Monday, August 15th.

The event hosted by the State College Area School District Golf Boosters and presented by Happy Valley Hotels, had seventeen teams entered in the Boys’ Class AA contest and eighteen for Class AAA. Ten teams were entered in the Girls’ Class AA and eleven in Class AAA.

There were seventy-two golfers entered in the Boys’ Class AA and seventy-five in Class AAA. For the Girls,’ forty-one golfers were entered in Class AA and forty-six in Class AAA.

The Bobcats finished the Boys’ Class AA with a 306 total, twenty strokes ahead of second place Ligonier Valley 1, which carded a 326. St. Joe’s was third at 329. Conemaugh Township and Central Cambria rounded out the Top 5, with scores of 330 and 334 respectively.

Clarion’s score was also first overall, with their score being one point better than Radnor, who finished with a 307 to claim the Class AAA Championship. The Girls’ Champions were, Hickory in Class AA and Downingtown East in Class AAA.

The Bobcats are coached by Head Coach Jay Kerle and Assistant Coach Jackie Kerle, Kameron and McKayla’s parents, who have mentored the Cats for a number of years.

They were very pleased with with the the Bobcats. Jackie mentioned, “Jay and I are beyond proud of the team’s play in this invitational. For being the first time any of them ever played on the course and having all four post rounds in the 70’s, it shows their ability to navigate their way around a golf course. Every golfer on our team found themselves in some type of trouble during their round, whether sand traps, water hazards, out of bounds, or uneven lies. They were all able to keep a strong mental focus which kept them from posting big numbers on the scorecard.  

“All four of these golfers have worked on their game so much over the summer and it is outcomes like this that make it all worth while. Hard work really does pay off!” 

Kameron was the third place finisher in Class AA, with a 73. St. Joes’ Tim Peters was first with a 67. Second place went to Josh James from Union City, who shot a 72. Rounding out the Top 5 were State College’s Solomon Liebert with a 75 and Jack Muldoon from Central Cambria, also with a 75.

Kameron joined four boys from Class AAA (Joey Sabol – State College 1, Sam Wetmiller – Selinsgrove, Shawn Mazzalupi – Radnor, Kyle Westfall – Erie High) with 73s. The Class AAA winner was Connor Matteo from Hazelton who finished with a 69. Anthony DiPietress from Cumberland Valley 1 shot a 71, while his teammate Ben Trautlein and Chambersburg’s AJ Corson each carded a 72.

Jackie Kerle shared this about Kameron’s play, “Kameron’s play at the Happy Valley Invite was fun to watch! He was  able to precisely navigate 16 of the 18 holes that are littered with sand traps around the greens and fairways to finish with a 73 (one over par) good for a 3rd place finish over all in the individual boys play.” 

McKayla carded a 75, with her score securing third place in the Girls’ Class AA standings. Anna Swan from North East won the division with a 67. Hickory’s Sasha Petrochko was second with a 70. Fourth place went to Lucianna Masters, also of Hickory who shot a 77. Recording an 81, Tyrone’s Cassidy Miksich finished in fifth. McKayla’s total was the fourth best overall. Gwendolyn Powell from North Pocono won Class AAA, with a score of 71.

About McKayla’s day, Jackie said, “McKayla played well all around. She was hitting long drives and making great chip shots to get up and down. Her short game was was top notch.   She finished with a 75 (3 over par) good for 3rd place over all in the girls individual play.”

Devon and Lucas each carded a 79 for the Bobcats.

Jackie said, “Lucas and Devon both had some really great golf shots. Lucas started his day with a birdie on the 2nd hole. Devon played well and when he found himself in trouble he remained steady and focused. They both finished with 79’s good for 13th overall in the boys individual play.” 

As for the rest of the campaign, Jackie said, “Our hopes for this season is to continue on this fantastic start. We have an immense amount of talent on this team and hope to make it far this year. Hopefully the PIAA State Tournament as a team! That’s the goal!”

And if that very attainable goal is reached, they will close out the season where it began, with the PIAA State Championships being held at the Penn State Blue Course this year. Individual Championships are Monday and Tuesday, October 17th and 18th, with the Team Championships on Wednesday, October 19th.

Great Start To The Season, Bobcats!!!!

2022 Clarion Area Bobcats Golf Team Roster

Senior – McKayla Kerle

Juniors – Avery Kline, Devon Lauer, Tanner Miller, Emily Troese

Sophomores – James Keenen, Kameron Kerle, Lucas Mitrosky

Freshman – Wyatt Watterson

2022 Clarion Area Bobcats Golf Schedule
Monday 08/15/22 Clarion Home Golf Match 4:00 PM
Clarion Area , A-C Valley, Clarion-Limestone, Cranberry, Forest Area, Karns City, Keystone, Moniteau, Union, Venango Catholic
Thursday 08/18/22 OPEN (North East Tournament) Away 8:00 PM
Tuesday 08/23/22 *Keystone Away 4:00 PM
Thursday 08/25/22 *Venango Catholic High School Away 4:00 PM
Tuesday 08/30/22 *Karns City Away 4:00 PM
Thursday 09/01/22 *Forest Area Away 4:00 PM
Tuesday 09/06/22 *Moniteau (Aubrey’s Golf Course-140 Aubrey’s Drive, Butler) Away 4:00 PM
Thursday 09/08/22 Coudersport (Coudersport Tournament) Away 8:00 AM
Saturday 09/10/22 Bradford Area High School (Bradford Tournament) Home 8:00 PM
Monday 09/12/22 Cranberry (Wanango Golf Course- Reno) Away 4:00 PM
Thursday 09/15/22 *Clarion-Limestone Away 4:00 PM
Friday 09/16/22 Kane Area High School (Kane Tournament ) Away 8:00 AM
Saturday 09/17/22 Meadville (Meadville two-day Tournament ) Away 8:00 AM
Sunday 09/18/22 Meadville Area Senior High School (Meadville Tournament) Away 8:00 AM
Monday 09/19/22 *Allegheny-Clarion Valley Away 4:00 PM
Monday 09/26/22 Kane Area High School (Boys District hosted by Kane) Away 8:00 AM Saturday 10/01/22 Kane Area High School (Boys Districts hosted by Kane) Away 8:00 AM
Monday 10/03/22 Coudersport (Girls Districts hosted by Coudersport ) Away 8:00 AM
Sunday 10/16/22 OPEN (PIAA Golf States) Away 8:00 AM
Monday 10/17/22 OPEN (PIAA Golf States) Away 8:00 PM
Tuesday 10/18/22 OPEN (PIAA Golf States) Away 7:00 AM
Wednesday 10/19/22 OPEN (PIAA Golf States- return in the evening) Away 8:00 AM
Monday 10/24/22 OPEN (PIAA States- Depart on Oct 23rd ) Away 8:00 AM