Butler’s Levi McClellan was ‘born around’ golf and finally has chance to make PIAA championships
A lot has led to this point for Levi McClellan.
The Butler senior golfer heads into the final round of the WPIAL Boys Class 3A Individual Golf Championship on Monday with a good measure of preparation, hoping it all adds up to a good finish.
McClellan has been golfing since he 7 or 8 years old. His father, Ron, was a golf professional when McClellan was growing up.
“I was just kinda born around the game,” McClellan said. “Just always been around the game ... He helps me a lot, getting ready to play. If I have any questions, he's played all these golf courses. We'll go play and kinda get a game plan.”
On Thursday, the two made the trip to play at Sewickley Heights Golf Club, where the final will be held.
“That helped a lot, him being so advanced,” McClellan said. “If you hit it in the fairway, (it’s) definitely a big advantage at Sewickley, because the rough’s thick. (It’s) easier to keep the ball in the green.”
McClellan said he hit the ball pretty well during the opening round at Hannastown Golf Club and finished with a 4-over 74, “but it kinda made it a little easier at the course, not being able to touch the ball everywhere because of how wet it was. So it helped save a couple shots there.”
The greens were fast and firm, which made it tougher on competitors. McClellan, who sits in 10th after 18 holes, had to “just plant the ball really well, kind of kept it in front of me,” he said. “Just not trying to make any big numbers, kinda limit the bogeys, make a lot of pars and I actually played pretty solid.”
The top 14 finishers from the WPIAL 3A championship advance to the PIAA Individual Golf Championships, which will be held Oct. 19-20 at the Penn State Golf Courses. Two other Butler County golfers, Seneca Valley’s Josh Marquardt and Mars’ Landon Mitro will also compete in 3A after each shot 7-over in the opening round.
The 2A boys field includes North Catholic’s Christopher Faber and Colin Campbell. The top 18 qualify for states.
On the girls side, Mars’ Elise Wadas and Delaney DiCuccio, and Seneca Valley’s Kaelin McCann and Alana Stewart qualified for the 3A final round (top seven qualify for PIAAs); and North Catholic’s Riley Kontul, GiGi Colafella and Brea Kelley advanced in 2A (top nine qualify for PIAAs).
McClellan feels he has nothing to lose after missing out on that stage last year.
“Last year kinda got my mind set with everything,” McClellan said. “It doesn't really mean much, but you just gotta go play your game and do as well as you can.”
McClellan’s also big into fishing. He’s looking into golfing in college, hopefully at a higher level. He tries to pick up his clubs at least once a day, even if just to sharpen his chipping and putting skills.
“It just takes a lot of discipline and going to the course,” McClellan said. “Just a lot of repetition, just hitting balls at the range, playing at a lot of tournaments. It all comes from repetition.”
