Brian McDonnell

Brian McDonnell is making the most of his senior season on the golf course.

A resident of Seven Fields and senior at Eden Christian Academy, McDonnell captured the WPIAL Class 2A individual championship by shooting a 75 at Allegheny Country Club Sept. 30 in Sewickley.

For the last three years, McDonnell just missed out on qualifying for WPIALs. He's now headed to the state championship as a district champion.

It seems like a huge jump, but Eden golf coach John Wick believes McDonnell simply played up to his potential.

“I'm not surprised at all at Brian's performance,” he said. “He has every ounce of talent, the right attitude and demeanor. Him winning the WPIAL championship was an eventuality.

“Each group of golfers has an official scorer with it during the entire round,” added Wick. “He asked Brian a few times if he wanted to know where he stood in the standings and Brian said no. That's the type of kid he is. He doesn't get too high or too low and that absolutely served him well.”

The back nine at Allegheny is very difficult and McDonnell's title was due in large measure to his out-playing of the competition late in the round. He managed par on the final five holes, which included four par-4s and a par-3.

His 75 was one stroke better than Quaker Valley's Jackson Bould.

“I used my driver only about three times all day and mostly went with my 3-wood,” McDonnell said. “I was confident going into WPIALs and knew if I just executed, I'd put myself in a good spot.

“I did a good job of staying in the fairway and left myself a lot of 3-4 foot putts.”

McDonnell had reached the WPIAL final by qualifying at the Section 3 tournament, held at Pheasant Ridge.

He was Eden's top golfer all four years and got his average down to 37.3 per nine holes this season. He will compete in the state championship, which is scheduled next Monday at Heritage Hills Golf Resort in York.

“My dad got me into golfing and I got my first set of clubs when I was 9,” McDonnell said. “I just trusted the process and kept working. I wanted to embrace my senior year and am super-grateful for this opportunity.

“I'm just going to play my game and take it one shot at a time.”

Brian is the son of Jamie and Lori McDonnell.