Moon’s Sabol claims title in playoff vs. Latrobe star

Par on first hole is the difference at Nemacolin

Chris Sabol went all historical to explain the significance of the gold medal hanging around his neck. After not qualifying for the WPIAL golf individual championship as a freshman or sophomore, he finished 29th a year ago.

“This is the one thing that I’ve wanted since I got into high school,” Sabol said. “It means so much to me. Arnold Palmer once won this thing. I mean that’s kind of crazy.”

And for something else crazy, Sabol beat a player from Palmer’s alma mater to grab the championship.

It took only one hole of a sudden-death playoff for Sabol, a senior at Moon High School, to beat Latrobe junior Brady Pevarnik Tuesday afternoon at Nemacolin Country Club in Beallsville, Washington County.

Sabol and Pevarnik tied for first with even-par 70s. Both birdied the 18th hole to force the playoff, which started on the par-4, 400-yard first hole. Pevarnik bogeyed while Sabol tapped in for par.

Sabol was beaming afterward. He certainly was not considered one of the favorites on this 6,737-yard course with slick greens.

“We played [the WPIAL championship] last year at Oakmont. These greens were close to as fast,” Sabol said. “I hit a lot of good tee shots that put me in good position to attack the flag and I took my time on the greens. I had to putt well.”

It was a tough ending for Pevarnik, who was 12th a year ago and third as a freshman. He thought he had an excellent chance to win this year and shot 32 on the back nine. After losing the playoff, Pevarnik walked back up the No. 1 fairway to the clubhouse, constantly mumbling to himself.

“I lost,” he said. “Coming into this, if I didn’t win, it was going to be a disappointment. Whether your second or 14th, I don’t care. The truth is no one remembers who finishes second at WPIALs. They remember the winner. They don’t remember who lost in a playoff.” Chris Sabol of Moon reacts after a rare missed putt in his championship round Tuesday at Nemacolin Country Club. Sabol won the Class 3A title in a playoff.

Sabol had to wait while Pevarnik finished his round in the second-to-last group. When Sabol and Pevarnik met on the first tee to start the playoff, Sabol greeted his opponent with a simple, “How’s it going, brother?”

Then Pevarnik hit his tee shot, and it was, “Oh, brother.” Pevarnik pulled one into the No. 9 fairway while Sabol drove down the middle and, from 141 yards away, placed a 9-iron to 13 feet. Pevarnik followed with a 9-iron into some trees short of the green on his second shot.

“Actually, I wasn’t that bad after my drive, but my second shot was bad,” Pevarnik said.

But as about a dozen players and another dozen coaches and parents watched, Pevarnik provided some excitement. His chip hit the hole and rolled to about 7 feet.

But he missed his par putt. Sabol was champion. “I started the day 2 over through 3,” Sabol said. “I just kept chugging along.”

The top 14 finishers advanced to the PIAA Western regional Oct. 16 at Tom’s Run in Blairsville, Indiana County. One of the 14 was Fox Chapel’s Gregor Meyer. But Meyer finished tied for ninth at 77. He bogeyed the final three holes.

Franklin Regional’s Palmer Jackson, another one of the favorites, finished third at 72. He bogeyed two of the final three holes.

Peters Township senior Hunter Bruce, who won the WPIAL title two years ago, finished 14th with a 78.