GCC’s Zambruno eying a rare feat
Tri-State Sports & News Service
Olivia Zambruno has developed into one of the best golfers in WPIAL history because of her ability to maintain her focus on each shot as it happens.
This season, however, the Greensburg Central Catholic senior who’s a Penn State recruit has caught herself peeking ahead just a little.
Zambruno is already the first golfer to win the 2A individual championship in consecutive years — the classification has only existed since 2011 — but with a win this year, she can join Hopewell’s Jodi Figley as the only person ever to win three consecutive titles. Figley won four from 1983-86 and Greensburg Central Catholic’s Staci Aber won three times (1988, 1990-91), but not consecutively.
“I’m just trying to not think about that I have to win, but just keep working on my game and doing the best I can and see how that goes,” Zambruno said. “Hopefully, when it comes down to it, I can win it for the third time, but I’m trying not to get too far ahead of myself. It would be exciting if it happens.”
Zambruno could also become the first player to win three consecutive state golf titles in any classification. Katie Miller of Hempfield Area (1999-2000, 2002) and Cimmie Shahan of Spring Grove (1995-96, 1998) also won three, but, again, not consecutively.
“I’ve actually thought about it before — many, many times — and I can’t believe that I was able to stay calm and not let the nerves get to me,” Zambruno said. “But I just pretty much tell myself that I’ve done it before, not think too much about it and try not to get too worked up.”
Then again, considering the state finals — should she make it that far — would be her final high school match, there is a bit of nostalgia surrounding her final run through the WPIAL.
“It’s really sad to think about, because every time I go out there and play a match, I know I’m getting closer and closer to the end,” Zambruno said. “It’s just crazy to think that I’ve been at GCC for four years and it’s almost over.”
When she does head to college, she might find things on the course to be a lot more challenging than over the last few years of high school. She won the PIAA title by 10 strokes last year in the two-day tournament at Heritage Hills after defeating Seton-LaSalle’s Joey Walz by one in 2014.
Playing in close matches hasn’t often been something Zambruno has had to do at the high school level, but it will be a challenge when she starts competing in the Big Ten.
“That’s definitely going to be tough because there’s going to be a lot tighter matches and every single shot counts, no matter what,” Zambruno said. “There’s going to be a lot of that, and it’s going to be nerve-racking. But as long as I don’t get nervous about everything and work on that, it should be good.”