Last Updated: Tue Oct 19, 2021 - 5:49PM
Greensburg Central Catholic senior Meghan Zambruno finished in a tie for second on the girls side, while Derry Area’s Hunter Jurica placed sixth among the boys in the PIAA Class AA golf championships at the Heritage Hills Golf Resort in York on Monday.
Zambruno, a senior for the Centurions, shot a two-over 74, which was just one stroke behind winner Paige Richter of Camp Hill. Zambruno shot an even par on the front nine, with a bogey followed by a birdie, and two-over par on the back nine, as she carded a pair of bogeys. Among WPIAL girls, she was by far the best finisher, as the next closest golfers from the district finished in a tie for 10th.
Two of the three who tied for 10th were fellow Centurions, as Meghan’s twin Ella Zambruno and sophomore Izzy Aigner each shot an 83, which matched Quaker Valley’s Eva Bulger. Another GCC competitor, senior Olivia Kana, shot a round of 95, which put her in a tie for 26th.
A year ago, Meghan Zambruno finished in fifth in the PIAA event, while Ella tied for ninth and Aigner tied for 11th. As a sophomore in 2019, Meghan finished in 4th place when the event included two rounds, and she tied for third the previous year.
Meghan and Ella’s older sister, Olivia, captured PIAA Class AA individual gold in each of her final three years, spanning 2014-16.
In the boys Class AA competition on Monday, Derry Area junior Hunter Jurica carded a round of 76, five over par. His performance put him four strokes behind the winner, Union City’s Josh James. Quaker Valley’s Jackson Bould and Avonworth’s Kai Carlson were the best performers from the WPIAL, as they each shot 74 in a three-way tie for second place.
Jurica’s appearance on Monday was his first time in the state championship, and he was the first Westmoreland County boys Class AA golfer to advance since Tiger Hubbard of Burrell in 2018.
The boys and girls Class AAA events will take place on Tuesday, also at the Heritage Hills Golf.