While Westmoreland County Golf Association tournament officials were disappointed with the small field at Thursday’s Junior Championship, they were thrilled with the play of their champion.

Mt. Pleasant graduate Sam Napper didn’t perform like a golfer who started playing three years ago.

The Westminster commit ran away with the 31st annual Junior Championship title at Latrobe Country Club. He shot a 2-over par 74 and won by nine shots.

Norwin junior Sal Cerilli and Belle Vernon sophomore Tyler Mocello tied for second after shooting an 11-over 83. Mocello was the 13-15 age division champion.

Kiski Area’s Colten McCutcheon finished third in the 16-18 division with an 84, edging Belle Vernon’s Jake Caldwell with a scorecard playoff.

Greensburg Salem senior Jeff Mankins finished fifth in a scorecard playoff with an 85, edging Norwin’s Logan Divald and Hempfield’s Anthony Rendulich. Ligonier Valley’s Gunner Elliott was eighth with an 86.

Latrobe’s Jack Shearer was second with an 89 in the 13-15 division, and Penn-Trafford’s Nicolas Turowski was third with a 96.

Napper’s score actually was a shot better than 2018 winner Palmer Jackson of Franklin Regional, who shot 75.

Napper, who was 1-under through 16 holes, also was in line to set the low score of 71 for winners at Latrobe, but he bogeyed No. 17 and had a double-bogey on No. 18.

“This was probably one of my best rounds,” Napper said. “I was hitting fairways and making putts.”

But it was his short game at the end that cost him a few shots.

“I hooked my chip on No. 18 and missed the green to the left,” Napper said. “I wasn’t trying to play conservative. I tried to stay aggressive.”

Napper had four birdies during his round, including birdies on Nos. 12 and 14. But a long putt on No. 15 for par was his proudest moment.

“It was a good birdie on No. 12 after a poor chip,” Napper said. “I made a big putt (20 feet on 15).”

Napper, who played soccer at Mt. Pleasant, said he wanted to try something new and fell in love with golf.

“I got tired of soccer,” Napper said. “I just want to keep playing well and maybe transfer to a bigger school later.”

Napper finished 10th in the tournament in 2018.

McCutcheon said he was satisfied with his play. He said the wet conditions made it difficult.

“I just want to continue to play these types of tournaments so I can improve,” McCutcheon said. “There were a lot of good golfers. Playing in these tournaments will help.”

Mocello, who also plays soccer and runs track at Belle Vernon, carded a strong back nine, when he shot a 3-over 39.

“I hit a few bad shots, but I tried to stay in it because the course was playing tough,” Mocello said. “I played at 1-over the final five holes. That’s what was so pleasing. I’d like to come back next year and win it.”

Hempfield won the team title, its’ third in school history, with a 265. Belle Vernon was second with a 269.

Franklin Regional, which had won the previous four seasons, didn’t have a golfer entered in the tournament this season.

Rendulich (85), Mitch Sarsfield (90) and Nicolas Suchko (90) led the way for Hempfield.

Tournament director Bob Allshouse said there were 27 golfers entered in the tournament, which is a low number. He hopes more golfers return next year.

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