Union City's Josh James wins PIAA Class 2A golf title; Swan places 2nd

Josh James and Tyler Parkhurst were Union City golfers who entered various competitive tournaments this past summer.

The idea was it would prepare them for pressure comparable or even greater than what they'd experience come the PIAA tournament, which took place Monday at York's Heritage Hills Golf Resort.

Those rounds proved worth it for the duo.

And in James' case, it was worth it enough to become a state champion. The junior overcame windy conditions, plus a bogey and a double-bogey, to finish his 18 holes at 1-over-par 72 for a two-shot victory.

North East star Lydia Swan was in contention to give District 10 an unprecedented sweep of the male and female titles in 2A. However, that bid came up one shot short for the 2019 champion and Oral Roberts University recruit.

She tied for second place Monday as she placed among the top three at the PIAA tournament for the fourth consecutive year. Swan won the state title as a sophomore in 2019, placed second in 2018 and finished third in 2020.

Swan bogeyed four of her last six holes. That included the 18th hole where Swan's tee shot hit a golf cart. That left the senior tied with Greensburg Central Catholic's Meghan Zambruno for second place with at 2-over 74..

Paige Richter of Camp Hill was the medalist at 1-over 73.

Waiting game for James

While James was two shots better than Quaker Valley's Jackson Bould, Palmerton's Josh Suto and Avonworth's Kai Carlson, it was another golfer he sweated out to learn his fate.

Nick Werner was listed at 3-over with two holes to go when James signed his scoreboard. James was left to idle while the Wyoming Seminary freshman completed his round.

“It was very stressful for those 20 minutes,” James said. “You're all excited because you don't know (the outcome) and everyone else is out there checking the scoreboard. But then, it all felt great.”

James, who began his round on Heritage Hills' 10th hole, wrote five on his scorecard for the par-four 14th and a six for the par-four 16th. However, he made up for two of those three extra shots with birdies on the par-5 second and par-4 fourth.

James was even par over his last five holes, which was enough to become the district's ninth PIAA individual male champion.

"I was three-over (at the turn) and you know you have to start making a move," James said. "There's kids out here who can shoot really well, but when I got that first birdie on two it just got me moving. After that, it was, 'OK, I know I can do this.'"

Parkhurst also was in contention for first until he bogeyed or double-bogeyed three of his last four holes. The senior came in fifth with a 75.

“It was still a great experience,” Parkhurst said. “We figured, 'Let's just go out and have some fun.' To have Josh come out here and win (the tournament), hey, I can be happy with fifth.”

Corry's Maxx Rimdzius was the district's only other medalist in the standings. The senior, at 76, finished in a seven-way tie for sixth.

Another Erie County champion

Thanks to James, District 10 can brag it's home to the PIAA's best 2A boys golfers for consecutive seasons.

Former North East star Isaiah Swan, who on Sunday won the PSAC men's golf tournament as an Indiana University of Pennsylvania freshman, was the state's 2020 small-school medalist at Heritage Hills.

Swan won Sunday's tournament at Hershey Country Club's East Course, located roughly an hour north of York. He remained in the Susquehanna River region to watch younger sisters Lydia and Anna Swan compete in the 2A girls tournament.

“I talked with Isaiah little bit (Monday),” James said. “That was great.”

Cart controversy

Despite Swan's struggles over her back nine, she still trailed Richter by only one stroke going to to her final hole.  That hole was Heritage Hills' par-four, 305-yard ninth.

Swan hooked her tee shot left, but felt comfortable it remained in play. That was until she was informed the ball struck the tire of a golf cart and caromed out of bounds.

The cart belonged to a volunteer spotter.

“The rule in that case was it doesn't matter where (the ball) ends up. That's where you have to play it,” Swan said. “I had to play a provisional and ended up bogeying (the hole). It was a pretty good bogey, but it was unfortunate.

“Hey, can't do anything about it now.”

Lydia Swan was one of four district girls who received a top-10 PIAA Class 2A golf medal.

Hickory's Sasha Petrochko, the district champ, was fourth with a 76. Anna Swan, a sophomore for the Grapepickers, followed in fifth at 78.

Hickory's McKenzie Gustas tied for sixth with an 80.

Knight golfer was original winner

James, as a junior, can now accomplish what no district male has since the Depression.

Barrett Melvin is northwestern Pennsylvania's only two-time PIAA champ. The Franklin student won the inaugural 1935 tournament and defended in 1936.

PIAA play remained open class until splitting into 2A and 3A in 2012.

Contact Mike Copper at mcopper@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNcopper.

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The overall winners and District 10 results for the PIAA Class 2A golf tournament at York's Heritage Hills Golf Resort. The top 10 golfers with ties received medals:

Girls

1. Paige Richter, Camp Hill 73

2. (tie including) Lydia Swan, North East 74

4. Sasha Petrochko, Hickory 76

5. Anna Swan, North East 78

6. (tie) McKenzie Gustas, Hickory 80

13. (tie) Luciana Masters, Hickory 84

20. Ava Liburdi, Hickory 87

24. (tie) Emily Donahue, Grove City, and Kaitlyn Hoover, Wilmington 92

Boys

1. Josh James, Union City 72

5. Tyler Parkhurst, Union City 75

6. (tie) Maxx Rimdzius, Corry 76

29. (tie) Dylan Flinchbaugh, Saegertown and Jacob Wolak, Slippery Rock 82

35. (tie) Joe Fugagli, Mercyhurst Prep 83

49. (tie) Toby Matson, Grove City` 87

Nate James, Corry DQ