Pittston Area won the Tom Tryba Tournament. Team members include, front row, from left: Noah Gruber, Ryan Noone, Patrick Ruane, Andrew Nocito, Gianni Bartorillo and Nick Cook. Back row, same order: Dave Homschek, Max Mihalka, Ryan Tonte, Marco Agolino, Jacob Bratlee, Alex Rosencrans, Sam Christmas, Josh Chaump, Ryan Reza and coach Jason Miller.
Tom Robinson / For Sunday Dispatch
EXETER – Pittston Area and Wyoming Area each made breakthroughs while leading the team competition in Monday’s Tom Tryba Memorial, the annual early-season golf tournament for Wyoming Valley Conference teams.
Pittston Area won its first team title while Wyoming Area got four players into the 70s for the first time on the way to a second-place finish.
The Patriots, Warriors and third-place Lake-Lehman each had four players break 80 in the tournament, which uses the best four scores from a six-player lineup.
The Tryba title is part of an outstanding start by WVC co-leader Pittston Area and coach Jason Miller thinks there is more ahead for his team, which reached the District 2 Class 3A championship match last season.
“We could have shot better,” Miller said. “We could have played better.”
Still, the Patriots played well enough to outscore the Warriors 302-307 at the top of the field of 13 full teams.
The result is a sign of how much time the players have put into their games.
“Everybody’s been playing all summer,” Miller said. “We talk; we text. They’re here all summer. Half of them work here and are members here.”
Andrew Nocito led the way, shooting a 1-over, 72 to finish second to Holy Redeemer freshman Liam Gill’s 71.
“Andrew Nocito’s 72 was his lowest round ever,” Miller said. “He’s been playing well.”
Nocito started on 12 with a birdie, then bogeyed three of the first four holes before playing the remaining 13 holes in 1-under. He shot 34 on the front nine with the help of birdies at 4, 6 and 7.
Noah Gruber (75), Patrick Ruane (77) and Ryan Noone (78) helped the Patriots to the team title. Gianni Bartorillo and Nick Cook were not part of the team score but shot 80 and 82.
Wyoming Area finished four shots in front of Lake-Lehman and six ahead of Hazleton Area.
Aiden August shot a 75 to join Gruber and four others in a tie for fifth place.
Lane Wesley was ninth with his 76, Robbie Yatsko added a 77 and Mitchell Rusinchak shot 79.
Joey Onda and Hunter Hosier rounded out the Wyoming Area lineup with 86 and 90.
The individual title was the biggest win to date on any level for Gill, who plays at Fox Hill and Huntsville throughout the summer.
“I knew as a freshman that I didn’t have a lot of pressure me against all the seniors and juniors,” Gill said. “I just tried to go out there and not care what I do besides just playing good, solid golf.
“I just tried to play mistake-free.”
Gill accomplished that.
After beginning on 18 in the shot-gun start, Gill opened with six straight pars.
Gill’s first birdie came at the par-5, sixth hole when he put his second shot pin-high about 15 feet away and two-putted. His wedge on 9 left a 20-foot, up-hill birdie putt that Gill drained to get to 2-under.
