Gianelos leads balanced Unionville to PIAA Class AAA team crown

   Unionville has always fielded a solid golf team over the years.

   Unionville had individual state champions in Laura Hammond in 1993 and Kyle Davis in 2005. But the 2017 team wrote a new chapter in the program’s history Wednesday by capturing the PIAA Class AAA team title at the Heritage Hills Golf Resort in York County.

   The Indians needed to be exceptional to get past Central York, the District Three champion playing in its backyard, and defending state champion Pittsburgh Central Catholic. And they were just that.

   Senior Nick Gianelos carded a 1-over 72 over the 6,700-yard, par-71 Heritage Hills layout, junior Connor Bennink added a 2-over 73 and Richie Kline and Jake McCloskey each posted a 3-over 74 to give Ches-Mont League and District One champion Unionville a 9-over 292 total. Unionville was able to toss Will Bennink’s 77 in the five-count-four format.

   Central York was led by its powerful 1-2 punch at the top of the lineup as senior Joe Parrini and sophomore Carson Bacha each carded a 1-under 70. But Central York couldn’t keep it up after its top two and ended up with a 296 total, four shots behind Unionville.

   Senior Brady St. Pierre carded a solid 5-over 76 and senior Will Gekas was the final counter with an 80. Freshman Jun Lee’s 81 was tossed.

   Pittsburgh Central Catholic and Erie Cathedral Prep shared third place, each carding a 305 total. La Salle, the District 12 and Catholic League champion, finished fifth at 310.

   Unionville’s victory returned the team crown to District One after a one-year absence. Radnor, led by Brynn Walker, captured the Class AAA state title two years ago.

   Gianelos, playing out of Radley Run Country Club, made a big splash on the Golf Association of Philadelphia scene two summers ago when he captured medalist honors in qualifying for match play in the Junior Boys’ Championship with a sizzling 7-under 65 at Tavistock Country Club.

   The Benninks, Kline and McCloskey frequently appear on Philadelphia Section PGA Junior Tour leaderboards.

   Connor Bennink was coming off a solid showing in the PIAA Class AAA individual competition, which concluded Tuesday, as he carded a pair of 73s for a 146 total that left him tied for fourth. He made it three straight 73s at Heritage Hills in Wednesday’s team competition.

   With Parrini, an Arizona recruit, and Bacha at the top of the lineup, Central York looked tough coming into Wednesday’s team competition. Parrini and Bacha finished tied for 23^rd in the Boys Junior PGA Championship last summer at the Country Club of St. Albans’ Lewis & Clark Course in St. Albans, Mo.

   Bacha opted out of the PIAA postseason individual competition to play in an American Junior Golf Association event, but was able to tee it up in the District Three team competition, which allowed him to play in the PIAA team championship.

   Parrini, who finished tied for fifth in the individual standings with a final round of 3-under 69, told me at last week’s East Regional at Golden Oaks Golf Club that the team competition was his primary focus for his senior season.

   The rest of the team champions all came from western Pennsylvania’s WPIAL.

   The Class AAA girls team title went to North Allegheny, which posted a 240 total to easily outdistance perennial District One power Mount St. Joseph, which carded a 258 total. Only three scores from teams of five players counted in the girls competition this season.

   North Allegheny was led by junior Caroline Wrigley, a Furman recruit who finished third in the individual competition. Wrigley fired a sparkling 3-under 69 over a Heritage Hills layout that plays 6,223 yards to a par of 72 for the girls in Wednesday’s team round.

   Christina Lewis added an 81 for North Allegheny.

   Sewickley Academy swept the boys and girls titles in Class AA.

   J.F. Aber carded a 3-over 74 to lead the way as Sewickley Academy posted a 311 total, 11 shots better than runnerup Scranton Prep, which finished at 322. St. Joseph’s Academy was another shot back in third at 323 and Moravian Academy was another shot behind St. Joseph’s Academy in fourth at 324.

   Also for Sewickley Academy, Peter Curran carded a 78, Cole Luther had a 79 and Will Nocito was the final counter with an 80. The Panthers, who claimed the title for the second time in three years, were able to toss Landen Shirley’s 83.

   The Sewickley girls drew a wild card into the championship after finishing second to Greensburg Central Catholic in the WPIAL Championship because another district champion failed to meet the qualifying standard.

   With Tatum McKelvey firing a spectacular 5-under 67, the Panthers turned the tables on Greensburg Central Catholic, with a 244 total. Greensburg Central Catholic was eight shots back in second at 252. Mercyhurst Prep finished third at 270 and District One champion Villa Joseph Marie was fourth at 272.