Small size, big talent
YORK — Even if Marissa DeCola shot her weight, it wouldn't be that bad.
The Butler sophomore is much better than that, however, carding an 83-80-163 Monday and Tuesday at the PIAA Girls Golf Championships at Heritage Hills.
She finished in a three-way tie for ninth. The top 10 scores among the 24 golfers earned all-state status.
"Last year, Marissa was the youngest and smallest golfer out here," Butler coach Sarah Parker said. "She played like a much more seasoned golfer this time around.
"She only weighs 97 pounds. I tease her about her size all the time. But this girl can play the game."
DeCola finished 20th at last year's state tournament. She finished 13 strokes behind champion Jackie Calamaro of Radnor this time around.
"Monday was a beautiful day to play. The second round was rainy and colder," DeCola said. "I play better in the rain than a lot of girls, for some reason.
"I doubled and triple-bogeyed Nos. 15 and 16 Monday. I came back and got a bogey and par on those same holes today. I know I bounced back and played better."
DeCola said Heritage Hills was the longest course she's played all year. She played practice rounds there Saturday and Sunday."There were hardly any girls out here playing Saturday. I think every girl in the tournament was out here Sunday," she said.DeCola was one of four sophomores in the field. One of the girls she tied with was sophomore Kendall Allen of Shady Side Academy."I'm proud of her," Parker said of DeCola. "She had a great year and she's continuing to make strides as a player."As Marissa continues to develop and gets physically stronger ... I think she stands a great shot at winning this tournament before she's through."DeCola agreed."My dad has told me I've got a shot at winning it and I didn't really believe him," DeCola said. "But looking back, if I would have hit just a couple of shots better, I could have finished as high as second."Maybe this is within my reach. I'm a lot more confident now. I'll keep working at it."In the boys event, junior Ryan Prokay of Grove City tied for fifth, carding a 74-73-147. Slippery Rock freshman Brett Rinker was 21st, shooting an 80-71-151.Only three of the 47 golfers in the boys field shot lower than Rinker did in the second round."He putted and chipped very well (Tuesday)," said Slippery Rock boys golf coach Merle Whitmer. "Not too many scores were lower than his today. For a ninth-grader who dug himself a bit of a hole (on Monday), he did pretty well."
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