(Butler, PA) While his program has won seven conference titles and five regional crowns and in the spring placed its highest in a national championship tournament, longtime Butler County Community College golf coach Bill Miller says his fall 2022 squad is “definitely the strongest we have had.”
The Pioneers return the program’s first first-team All-American and three other players from BC3 squads that finished 11-0 in fall 2021 and 10-0 in spring 2022.
Troy Loughry, Liam Kosior, Jack Mason and Tanner Hohmann led the Pioneers to the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference title in the fall and to the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III Region 20 crown in the spring.
The Pioneers’ fall season concludes with the WPCC championship tournament. The Pioneers’ spring season features Region 20 play and the Region 20 championship tournament, and a possible national championship appearance where golfers compete for All-American status.
Loughry was the medalist in BC3’s spring Region 20 and fall WPCC team championship victories. He also became a first-team All-American by placing fifth in the NJCAA Division III national championship tournament in Chautauqua, N.Y.
“Just an excellent player,” Miller said of Loughry, “and he has a good group with him.”
Kosior tied for 20th place in the NJCAA Division III national championship tournament, where the top 18 finishers are named All-Americans. The Pioneers ended sixth in their fifth national championship tournament appearance since 2009.
“Expectations are pretty high”
Kosior placed third in the spring Region 20 championship tournament; Mason sixth and Hohmann eighth. Kosior ended second in the fall WPCC championship tournament, Mason third and Hohmann fifth.
“Expectations are pretty high,” said Miller, BC3’s coach since 2003 and a six-time WPCC coach of the year. “This team is definitely the strongest team we have had.”
Loughry in the spring averaged a 72; Kosior, a 77; Mason, an 81; and Hohmann, an 87.
Freshmen Cory Voltz and Connor Squartino, graduates of Knoch High School, join Loughry and Hohmann, of Grove City; Kosior, of Neshannock, and Mason, of Freeport.
Loughry at Grove City qualified four times for the District 10 championships, finishing third in his freshman and junior seasons and ninth in his sophomore year.
Loughry in fall 2021 became BC3’s eighth WPCC individual golf champion since 2014. He is also the fifth BC3 golfer to be named an All-American.
“Troy hits a long, straight ball, and he has good iron play,” Miller said. “He’s a good putter. If he’s in a bad spot, he has the ability to get out of trouble.”
Kosior at Neshannock tied for 15th in the WPIAL Class 2A individual championships in his senior year.
“Liam also hits a long, straight ball,” Miller said. “He does a nice job around the greens. His iron play is strong, and he is very, very consistent.”
Mason “probably hits the ball as far as anybody on the team,” and Hohmann’s strength “is typically off the tee,” Miller said.
Voltz was Knoch’s top golfer in his senior season, Miller said, adding that “We are expecting big things from him.”
BC3 seeks 12th WPCC title
“I am really excited about how this team can do,” Miller said. “The goal is to win the WPCC and defend our title. That is the goal for fall.”
The Pioneers’ fall 2022 season begins at noon Sept. 2 at Lake Arthur Golf Club against the Community College of Allegheny County and Westmoreland County Community College.
BC3 has won 11 WPCC titles since 1972.
The WPCC championship tournament will be held Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 at the Links at Spring Church in Apollo.