(Butler, PA) Members of the Butler County Community College golf team competed Thursday in intercollegiate play for the first time since Carmen Oliva became the Pioneers’ first two-time champion in the season-ending Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference tournament in October 2019.
Jake Cuny, a Butler High graduate, shot an 8-over-par 80 at Pittsburgh National Golf Club in Gibsonia to capture men’s medalist honors in an individual match that drew golfers from the Community College of Allegheny County and from Westmoreland County Community College.
The Pioneers’ Sarah Fischer, a Freeport Area High graduate, shot a 121 and finished as women’s medalist.
The Pioneers’ Collin Witouski, a graduate of Eden Christian Academy, Sewickley, finished third with a 90 and Nate Cobb, also a Freeport graduate, finished fifth with a 106.
Cuny and Beau Rusnak, a graduate of Knoch High, return from the Pioneers’ fall 2019 squad. BC3’s spring schedule includes six National Junior College Athletic Association Division III Region XX matches against the Community College of Allegheny County; Westmoreland County Community College; Garrett College, McHenry, Md.; and Anne Arundel Community College, Arnold, Md.
The Pioneers will host the Community College of Allegheny County, Westmoreland County Community College and Garrett College at Lake Arthur Golf Club on April 30 and on May 10.Members of Butler County Community College’s spring 2021 golf team are, from left, Nate Cobb, Jake Cuny, Sarah Fischer, Beau Rusnak and Collin Witouski.
A Golf Invitational scheduled for May 17-18 at The Links at Spring Church may decide which golfers advance to the NJCAA Division III national tournament. Golfers who finish in the top 18 of the national tournament, to be held June 7-11 in Chautauqua, N.Y., will be awarded AllAmerican status.Pioneers coach Bill Miller said it is difficult to know how BC3 will fare this spring because the program was suspended for the spring 2020 and fall 2020 seasons with regard to COVID-19.
“We’ve been off for so long,” he said. “The good news, from my standpoint, is that all of the golfers played high school golf. So they have some competitive experience.”
Cuny averaged a 90 in the fall 2019 season and his tee shots this spring are roughly 250 yards, Miller said. “He hits it fairy long,” Miller said.
Rusnak averaged an 85 in the fall 2019 season and with 275-yard drives “really hits it long,” Miller said.
Like Cuny and Rusnak, Witouski is a long hitter and “very dedicated,” Miller said. “Very energetic.” Cobb putts well, Miller added.
Fischer is accurate with her shots and like Cobb is impressive with her putting, Miller said.
Fischer’s sister, Julia, in 2017 became the first female golfer at BC3 since Miller became coach of the program in 2003.
The Pioneers’ spring season features regional play, regional tournaments and possible national championship appearances. BC3’s fall golf seasons conclude with the WPCC championship tournament.
Oliva in October 2019 made BC3 golf program history by becoming the Pioneers’ first two-time WPCC individual champion with a 10-stroke victory in the season-ending tournament at The Links at Spring Church. Oliva shot a two-round 156 on the par-72 course.
Members of BC3’s golf team will have their temperature taken before each match, Miller said. Golfers exhibiting symptoms such as a temperature at or above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit will not be permitted to compete and should self-quarantine and seek medical advice. Golfers, Miller said, will wear face coverings and practice social distancing during transportation and when indoors