Golfer not done just yet
BUTLER TWP — Paige Scott came up two spots shy of qualifying for the PIAA Girls Golf Championships.
The Butler sophomore's golf season is far from over, however.
Scott shot a 75-79-154 last weekend at Totteridge Golf Club in Greensburg to win the girls 14-18 age division of the 2019 Hurricane Pittsburgh Junior Open.
There were 10 players in her division. She finished 10 strokes in front of runner-up Lilly Zhang of Buffalo, N.Y.
“I love the competition there,” Scott said of the Hurricane Junior Tour. “You go up against some of the best youth golfers out there.”
The victory marked Scott's second Hurricane Tour win this season. She won a tournament hosted by Birdsfoot in Freeport earlier.
Scott plans to play in another tournament this weekend at Kent State.
“That's a college prep event and I'm hoping to earn a Division I scholarship down the road,” she said. “I've been getting some e-mails from schools now.”
Scott has qualified for the Hurricane Junior Tour's National Championship Dec. 7-8 at Orange County National Golf Club in Winter Garden, Fla. She plans to participate in that event.
Scott is a multiple Butler Eagle County Amateur women's division champion as well.
She's done everything this year, it seems, but reach the PIAA tourney. Scott placed seventh in recent regional play at Tom's Run. The top five advanced to states.
“I had a bad two holes and it cost me,” Scott said.
“It was disappointing not getting her through,” Butler girls golf coach Sarah Zediker admitted. “Paige did well in qualifying at our place (Hiland), then at Diamond Run, then at Pleasant Valley ... She just had a tough day at Tom's Run.”
Scott averaged 37 for nine holes this high school season, failing to shoot in the 30's only twice. She averaged 39 per nine holes as a freshman.
“Now she wants to average 35 next year and I think she can get there,” Zediker said.
Scott is also chasing the Butler High School single-round record of 31 for nine holes, held by Marissa DeCola. Scott has shot as low as 33.
“That record is within Paige's range and she's going for it,” Zediker said.
A junior member at Butler Country Club, Scott works on her game there daily. A goal-driven golfer, she wants to go through an entire high school season without a nine-hole round of 40 or above.
That was her goal this season.
“Now it's my goal next year,” she declared.
“Paige is a very solid player, a very steady player,” Zediker said. “Her drives are very good. Sometimes thery cut to the right and we can work on straightening them out.
“I'd like to work with her more on her short game. I know how dedicated she is to improving her game and refining her skills.
“Paige definitely wants to play college golf. I think that will happen for her,” Zediker added.
