Chris Faber started the second round of the WPIAL Class 2A Boys Individual Golf Championship inside the top, 10 but seemingly a longshot to win.

He ended Tuesday nearly claiming gold after an impressive Day 2 at Oakmont Country Club. Faber shot a 6-over 77, finishing with a two-round total of 11-over to take home silver.

“It’s a great feeling,” he said on the phone. “If you would’ve told me coming into today I would’ve come away with a medal, I would’ve been very happy.”

Only Shady Side Academy’s Alex Avi did better on the day and overall, carding a 5-over final round to finish 8-over after 36 holes. Faber briefly led late, but Avi birdied on Nos. 13, 14 and 15 to rip the lead back in an “unbelievable” stretch of golf, Faber said.

Faber held steady — he was 1-over on the front nine — while other golfers around him and Avi faded back. Only Bishop Canevin’s Jamin Brock equaled Faber’s 6-over on the day.

Faber said he feels like challenging courses such as Oakmont are “built for me,” and he went into Round 2 trying to string together pars and “let the pack come back to (me).”

It worked.

The medal secures Faber a spot in the PIAA Individual Golf Championships on Oct. 19-20 at Penn State Golf Courses. He needed to be in the top 18 to qualify. He’ll join Trojannettes girls golfer Riley Kontul in making the trip to Happy Valley.

“I would love to medal,” Faber said. “I’m just trying to go in ... and have a good time.”

NC teammate Colin Campbell finished 38-over in 35th.

Related Article: North Catholic’s Riley Kontul medals at WPIALs, makes PIAA golf championship: Roundup

Butler, Seneca Valley and Mars’ boys teams finished 2-3-4 in the WPIAL Division I Section 3 championship race Tuesday at North Park Cross Country Trail.

Landon Slear and Brendan Eicher finished fourth (16:25.5) and fifth (16:26.8) individually, respectively, to lead the Golden Tornado to a 6-1 record in a new format that gave each team a head-to-head win or loss against each of the other six schools in the section like a tri-meet.

Seneca Valley went 5-2, Mars 4-3. North Allegheny won the section title at 7-0.

Scott Kelly (16:34.5) and Evan Lewis (16:36.9), both Planets sophomores, finished sixth and seventh, respectively. The Raiders’ Hunter Peterson (16:52.4) and Ian Wahl (17:00.0) came in 10th and 11th.

Hailey Long dominated the girls race, winning in 17:50.9, more than 30 seconds faster than the next-closest runner, and helped lead Mars to a second-place finish at 5-1. NA won the section title as well at 6-0.

Norah Sondej finished third (19:45.1) and Monica Grunden seventh (20:05.9) to give the Planets three top-10 runners.

Butler’s Macie McLister finished fifth (19:50.6) and Avery Sintz eighth (20:14.3), but the Tornado settled for sixth at 1-6 in the meet. Seneca Valley came in fifth at 2-4, led by Paige Damico (20:34.4, 15th).

Slippery Rock sweeps Sharpsville — Zachary Geisner won the boys race in 18:57 to help the Rockets (2-3) win their dual-meet 20-35. The girls improved to 3-2 with a no-score win. Lydia Springirth and Sophia Gearhart finished 1-2 at 22:20.

Carleigh Lucas had a goal and assist, and Phoebe Brandon deposited the other goal in Karns City’s 2-0 win over Redbank Valley. Goalie Peyton Claypool recorded the shutout.

Spencer Valasek and Liam Dunn deposited goals in Freeport’s 2-0 win over Highlands. Judah Thompson was in goal for the shutout, and Carson Rowley and Cam Smith had the assists.

Redbank Valley 2, Karns City 0 — Brock Dittman had 10 saves in the loss.

Maelan Bajuszik tallied nine kills and 11 assists to lead Knoch to a 3-0 victory over Lincoln Park (set scores: 25-11, 25-16, 25-12). Olivia Hawk had 25 digs, and Alyssa Patterson added eight kills.

Mars 3, Moon 0 — Kate Southwell knocked down 11 kills, and Reese Connelly and Alyssa Genis had eight each in a 25-14, 25-15, 25-9 win. Gabi Weidemann dished out 32 assists.

Baldwin 3, Butler 0 — Raina Lewandowski had seven kills and 10 digs in the loss by set scores of 25-19, 25-19, 25-11. Emerson McGarrah had 15 assists.

A-C Valley 3, Forest 0 — Lexi Altman dished out 14 assists and had two kills in the 25-10, 25-3, 25-8 win. Gianna Louise and Jacci Dehart had five kills each.

Seneca Valley 3, Norwin 0 — No other stats were provided from this game.