By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, October 9, 2022 | 11:01 AM

Eva Bulger is a uniquely talented golfer.

This season, the Quaker Valley senior became just the second girl in history to win four consecutive WPIAL titles.

The left-handed hitting Bulger did so by defeating senior Claire Konieczny of Geibel by three strokes at the WPIAL Class 2A girls final round Oct. 4 at Valley Brook Country Club in McMurray.

“The course was very difficult today,” Bulger said afterwards. “You want to make putts, but at the same time, you have to respect the speed of the greens. They challenged us with a longer set-up today, and I missed a few irons early that were costly.

“I made a swing adjustment after the fifth or sixth hole and hit it better thereafter. I didn’t expect it to go perfectly today. It never does. Golf is really a game of misses. I am happy that it all worked out.”

Bulger matched Hopewell’s Jodi Figley, who won four championships from 1983-86.

And there’s a Quaker Valley connection. Figley, who was at the course to congratulate Bugler, is the mother of Adam Renner, a senior member of the QV boys golf team.

“Mrs. Figley-Renner was here today for me and that was pretty special,” Bulger said. “She is a tremendous role model.”

After shooting an 8-over 80 at Youghiogheny Country Club in the first round to take a four-stroke lead, Bulger followed up with an 85 at the par-72 Valley Brook course.

The QV senior improved by five strokes between the front and back nine to capture her historic fourth gold medal.

Bulger carded a 45 with two pars and five bogeys on the front nine and a 40 with six pars and two bogeys on the back nine.

“Eva knew she wasn’t at her best today but stayed tough,” QV coach Greg Vecchi said. “Her putting kept her in it all day. Valley Brook is a challenging course. Eva just made it tougher at times with mistakes that she normally doesn’t make. She definitely steadied herself on the back nine.

“Winning four titles in a row is a big deal and can’t be beat. I think that sunk in a little while after she finished. It was all deserved since she works so hard at it. And where did she go after the match was over? To practice some more.”

Birdies were sparse on the 5,575-yard course, as Deer Lakes senior Anna Yourish finished with three birdies — on the par-4 seventh, 10th and 12th holes — and Eden Christian freshman Pearl Lundgren had a birdie on the par-3 15th hole.

Konieczny carded 10 pars and five bogeys at Valley Brook.

After finishing No. 1, Bulger and Konieczny virtually matched shots the rest of the way. Konieczny shot a 44 on the front nine and 40 on the back nine, giving her back-to-back 84 scores in the two-day event.

Bulger ended up 21-over par; Konieczny was 24 over.

Greensburg Central Catholic junior Izabela Aigner claimed third place with a two-round total of 169 (25 over), four strokes behind Bulger.

“Claire and Izzy played great,” Bulger said. “They’re both terrific players and tough competitors. While my focus never wandered to where my score was or where that put me, it felt like it was really close. This is the fun part. There’s no way to replicate these conditions in practice.”

The new WPIAL format this year had the championships being played in two rounds on two courses one week apart.

“As a player, we have to adapt and accept whatever format and venues are chosen,” Bulger said. “I think it was awesome that Valley Brook hosted us and we are very grateful for the awesome professional staff and grounds crew. The place is a 10.”

The top nine WPIAL 2A finishers advanced to the PIAA individual championships Oct. 17-18 at Penn State’s Blue Course.

“My goal at states is to give it my all, swing freely and have fun. That’s easier said than done, but that’s my plan,” Bulger said.

Bulger, Konieczny and Aigner will be joined at Penn State by Yourish, Lundgren, Shady Side Academy senior Neely Nicholson, Freeport junior Lillie Snow, Shady Side Academy senior Delaney Mulderig and Seneca Valley senior Kennedy Norton, who defeated Bethlehem-Center senior Gianna Petersen in a playoff to claim the final PIAA spot.

Bulger, who competes for the boys golf team at Quaker Valley, has qualified for the PIAA tournament four times.

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, October 16, 2022 | 11:01 AM

Four Quaker Valley golfers — sophomore Nolan Wagoner, freshman Jonah Schollaert, senior Jackson Bould and sophomore Ethan Dai — advanced to the WPIAL Class 2A boys championships with scores of 74, 77, 78 and 79 at the section qualifier at Fort Cherry Golf Course.

“The course was playing very hard with strong winds and very tough pins,” Schoellert said following the qualifier. “I didn’t necessarily have my best game with my irons in particular, but I grinded out a good score of 78 with a good short game.”

Three Quakers advanced to the PIAA championships at Penn State. Bould (80-80—160) and Dai (78-82—160) tied for fifth place at the WPIAL final; Schoellaert tied for 13th (87-78—165).

Schoellaert was one of five freshmen who advanced to the WPIAL 2A championships at prestigious Oakmont Country Club. Schoellaert started out with four consecutive pars on the 6,600-yard, par-71 course and finished with nine pars on the day.

Bould and Dai both carded three birdies and seven pars.

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, October 30, 2022 | 11:01 AM

Sewickley Academy was a PIAA finalist in boys golf for the seventh time in nine years.

The Panthers took third place in Class 2A with a 322 team score, finishing behind Lake-Lehman (296) and Devon Prep (308).

West Shamokin (327) and Delone Catholic (333) rounded out the top five teams in 2A.

Four golfers competed for the WPIAL champion Panthers on Oct. 17-18 on the Blue Course at Penn State.

Senior Joey Mucci and sophomore Severin Harmon led SA with scores of 78 and 79.

“I thought we played pretty well considering it was freezing rain and snowing at the beginning,” Mucci said. “Like always, we got off to a slow start mainly because of nerves but settled in nicely. Third place is a great accomplishment for us considering the two (teams) in front of us put up super impressive scores and have tremendous golfers.

“However, it was a fun time in the cold for one last state tournament.”

Sophomore Karan Kad and senior Nick Straka were next for the Panthers with rounds of 82 and 83.

“I thought we played really well as a team, especially considering the harsh weather,” Harmon said. “It’s always an honor to play in a state championship, and our performance was a testament to how hard we worked this year.

“Individually, I felt like I played better each day as the week went on.”

Senior Leon Jiao also participated for Sewickley and shot a 95.

Mucci tied for 19th place with Quaker Valley freshman Jonah Schollaert in the PIAA 2A boys individual tournament.

A four-time state finalist, Mucci carded a 12-over 78-78-156 total in the two-day event.

Fort LeBoeuf senior Nathan Feltmeyer also had a 156 total to finish in a tie with the two local players.

“I was satisfied but not thrilled with my performance during individuals,” Mucci said. “I struck the balls super well but unfortunately had a mental block on the par 3s, which killed my scores.”

Schollaert was one of only four freshmen to qualify for the individual finals in 2A. Schollaert ended up with a 76-80-156.

“Jonah is tough,” QV coach Greg Vecchi said. “He is always pushing himself to the end. He carries himself a little older than he is. I wasn’t surprised that he finished top 20 as a freshman after how he golfed all season for us.

“The PIAA final is a tough thing to get to, let alone finish high.”

QV senior Jackson Bould tied for 36th with a 161 total. Harmon placed 38th with a 162 and sophomore Ethan Dai tied for 39th at 163.

“After finishing second last year on a tougher course, I know Jackson had high goals for this tourney,” Vecchi said. “He was just a little more inconsistent than he usually is. Jackson had a fantastic high school golf career.”

The 15-year-old Schollaert hasn’t competed in any other sport besides golf since the sixth grade. He was joined at the 2A state tournament by freshmen Alex Talmadge of West Shamokin, Collin Schreiber of Moravian Academy and Braeden Stringer of Berks Catholic. Talmadge finished 14th with a nine-over 153.

“I’ve played at Penn State a couple other times for tournaments. I had a great time (at the PIAA event),” Schollaert said, “and it was an awesome accomplishment to be up there as a freshman. I played well both days with irons and my driver, but I left a good bit out there in the short-game department, specifically with putting speed and three-putts.

“At the beginning of the season, it was my goal to get to states, and to have finished top 20 feels great. I am making a game plan for the offseason so that next season is even better.”

Dai has two years remaining in his high school career. He and Nolan Wagoner were the only sophomores on the Quaker Valley squad.

“Ethan had some non-Ethan-like mistakes out there,” Vecchi said, “and wished he had golfed better. He had a terrific season for us though. He is another tremendous young golfer.”

Four-time WPIAL champion Eva Bulger of QV tied for seventh at 16-over at the PIAA Class 2A girls finals at Penn State.

Bulger shot an 81-79-160 to tie with Hickory sophomore Luciana Masters (77-83-160) in the two-day tournament.

“Eva started off Day 1 very strong with six pars in a row,” Vecchi said, “but she faltered in the middle of that round. Outside of that, she was solid for the rest of day one and all of Day 2.

“There are some very strong female 2A golfers statewide. Eva belonged right up there with them. She had an incredible career at Quaker Valley and accomplished so much.”

The seventh-place finish was Bulger’s best PIAA showing of her career. She ended up 10th last year.

“I was prepared and gave it my all at State College,” Bulger said. “I played pretty well both days. I made a nine on the par-4 11th hole or might’ve been able to make a run at it on Tuesday. That’s the way it goes. If you play enough golf, it happens to everyone.”

Sewickley won PIAA team titles in 2015, 2017 and 2019.

Ethan Morrison

Special to the Times

9/12/22

Every Monday, the Beaver County Times will recognize both individual athletes and teams for their impressive performances that took place in the last week of high school sports action. Here are the standout efforts from the week of Sept. 5.

Girls Golf

Eva Bulger, Quaker Valley

Bulger put on a show at the MAC championships on Thursday as she finished first overall individually, posting a final score of 69 on a full 18-hole course. She shot -2 on the front, recording three birdies. She then shot a 35 (-1) on the back as the team finished third overall with a 260.

MIKE WHITE

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

mwhite@post-gazette.com

10/4/22

As only the second four-time champion in WPIAL girls golf history, Eva Bulger got to rub elbows Tuesday with a WPIAL legend. Literally.

After Bulger, a senior at Quaker Valley High School, signed her scorecard to confirm her fourth title at Valley Brook Country Club in McMurray, one of the first people to congratulate her was a woman named Jodi Figley Renner. Thirty-six years ago, Figley Renner, then a senior at Hopewell, walked out of Butler’s Golf Course in Elizabeth as the first girl — or boy — to win four WPIAL championships.

On Tuesday, Figley Renner gave a big hug to the only other four-time champion. Figley Renner knows Bulger because their families both belong to Allegheny Country Club in Sewickley. Figley Renner followed Bulger around Valley Brook, hoping Bulger would also complete the four-peat.

“I’ve watched her play since she was little and I was totally rooting for her. That’s why I came out here,” said Figley Renner, who went on to play at Stanford and a few years on the LPGA tour. “I wanted her to win it. Let anybody do it [win four in a row]. That’s awesome to do.”

Back when Figley Renner played, the WPIAL had only one classification. Now, there are two and the WPIAL switched to a two-round championship format for the first time this year. While Bulger certainly wasn’t on top of her game at Valley Brook, shooting a 13-over 85, it was still good enough to win with a two-round total of 165. She shot 80 last week at Youghiogheny Country Club.

In team play, Bulger plays for the Quaker Valley boys because Quaker Valley doesn’t have a girls team. One of her Quaker Valley teammates is Figley Renner’s son.

“It was nice having her support and it was really cool to have her here because I’m close with her family,” Bulger said. “I never really thought of winning four championships. Every time, it was just take one day at a time, one shot at a time. And it turned out to be four WPIAL titles.”

But Bulger didn’t win this title without a scare. She went into the final round with a four-stroke lead over Geibel Catholic senior Claire Konieczny and a five-stroke lead over Greensburg Central Catholic junior Izabela Aigner. Bulger shot a 45 on the front nine and was even with Konieczny heading into the par-3 15th hole. Bulger greened her tee shot, while Konieczny hit into the sand. Konieczny took two shots to get out of the sand, but still wasn’t on the green. She finished with a triple-bogey 6 to open the door for Bulger, who took par on the hole. Konieczny shot 84 Tuesday and finished second at 168. Aigner shot 85 Tuesday and was third at 169.

“I didn’t know where things stood,” Bulger said of the scores on the back nine. “I knew I wasn’t playing my best, but I didn’t do anything differently. I just took one shot at a time and tried to stay in the present.”

In the end, they presented Bulger with the golf medal — for the fourth time.

Parth Upadhyaya

Beaver County Times

8/11/22

12. Will Quaker Valley’s Jackson Bould end his high school career with a PIAA boys’ golf title?

It took Quaker Valley’s Jackson Bould three tries, but he finally got over the hump last season to qualify for the PIAA Class 2A championships. He made the most of the opportunity, too. Bould finished in a three-way tie for second place, coming just two strokes shy of a PIAA title.

Now, the senior has overcome the mental hurdle of coming up short in qualifying for the PIAA final. And after coming as close as he did to being crowned a state champion, Bould should be one of the preseason favorites to take home a gold medal at the 2022 PIAA championships.

MORE:'Boring golf' results in silver medal for Quaker Valley's Bould at PIAA 2A championships

14. Will Quaker Valley’s Eva Bulger bring home a fourth consecutive WPIAL golf title?

Eva Bulger already put herself in rare company last season. When the Quaker Valley star won her third consecutive WPIAL Class 2A championship in 2021, she became only the third girls’ golfer in history — joining Hopewell’s Jodi Figley (1983-86) and North Allegheny’s Caroline Wrigley (2016-18) — to become a three-time WPIAL champion.

The senior now has a chance to be the only WPIAL girls’ golfer to match Figley’s record of four WPIAL golf titles. Bulger carded a 72 last year to capture the WPIAL championship by four strokes. Fast-forward one year, and she should be the favorite to take the WPIAL crown home yet again — and make history in the process.

MORE:Golden girl again: Quaker Valley's Bulger wins third straight WPIAL 2A Golf championship

WPIAL golf preview: Teams and players to watch and dates to circle

By: Paul Schofield 
Wednesday, August 17, 2022 | 6:53 PM

Class 3A boys

THE FAVORITE

Central Catholic

The Vikings, who lost to Fox Chapel by one shot in the WPIAL finals, return five of six starters. They also lost in the PIAA championship in a playoff.

WATCH OUT FOR

Peters Township 

The Indians return five of six starters, including three sophomores.

DON’T FORGET

Franklin Regional, Mars, Penn-Trafford, Seneca Valley

2021 WPIAL CHAMPION

Fox Chapel

PLAYERS TO WATCH

(returning placewinners)

Nick Turowski, Penn-Trafford, Jr. (returning 3A champion)

Blake Bertolo, Moon, Sr. 

Rocco Salvitti, Central Catholic, Sr.

Aidan Burchanti, Central Catholic, Sr.

Nolan Shilling, Franklin Regional, Sr.

Wyatt Kos, Butler, Jr.

Harrison Martineau, Indiana, Jr.

Patrick Bush, Belle Vernon, Sr.

Connor McKenzie, Upper St. Clair, So.

Ryan Frolich, Shady Side Academy, So.

IMPORTANT DATES

Sept. 19: Boys individual section qualifier

Sept. 27: 3A Boys individual first round at Champion Lakes

Oct. 2: WPIAL individual championship final round at Allegheny Country Club

Oct. 11: Class 3A team semifinals at Beaver Valley and Duck Hollow

Oct. 13: WPIAL team championships at Cedarbrook

Oct. 17-19: PIAA championships at Penn State 

Class 2A boys

THE FAVORITE

Quaker Valley 

The Quakers return four starters from a team that finished second by four strokes to North Catholic.

WATCH OUT FOR

North Catholic

The Trojans returns four starters from the 2021 WPIAL championship team.

DON’T FORGET

Carmichaels, Derry, Sewickley Academy, Waynesburg

2021 WPIAL CHAMPION

North Catholic

PLAYERS TO WATCH

(returning placewinners)

Jackson Bould, Quaker Valley Sr. (returning Class 2A runner-up)

Nixen Erdely, Frazier, Jr. 

Logan Monzak, Elizabeth Forward, Sr.

Ethan Ellis, North Catholic, Sr.

Kai Carlson, Northgate, Jr.

Daniel Sethman, Brownsville, Jr.

Ethan Dai, Quaker Valley, So.

Liam Lohr, Carmichaels, Jr.

Hunter Jurica, Derry Area, Sr.

Brandon Sapolsky, Northgate, Jr.

Luke Gronbeck, Eden Christian, Jr.

Severin Harmon, Sewickley Academy, So.

Joey Mucci, Sewickley Academy, Sr.

Matt Morelli, Neshannock, Jr.

IMPORTANT DATES

Sept. 19: Boys individual section qualifiers

Sept. 27: Class 2A boys individual first round at Hannastown

Oct. 4: WPIAL individual championship final round at Oakmont

Oct. 13: WPIAL team championships at Cedarbrook

Oct. 17-19: PIAA championships at Penn State

Class 2A girls

THE FAVORITE

Central Valley 

The Warriors finished second in 2021 and return three starters.

WATCH OUT FOR

Mt. Pleasant 

The Vikings finished third and return four starters.

DON’T FORGET

Greensburg Central Catholic, Shady Side Academy

2021 WPIAL CHAMPION 

Greensburg Central Catholic

PLAYERS TO WATCH

(returning placewinners and others)

Eva Bulger, Quaker Valley, Sr. (returning three-time 2A champion)

Claire Konieczny, Geibel, Sr. 

Izzy Aigner, Greensburg Central Catholic, Sr.

Kennady Norton, Central Valley, Sr.

Mya Mrkonja, Central Valley, Sr.

Clara Anderson, Avonworth, Sr.

Sophie Covelli, Neshannock, Jr.

Lillie Snow, Freeport, Jr.

Anna Yourish, Deer Lakes, Sr.

IMPORTANT DATES

Sept. 21: Girls individual section qualifier

Sept. 26: Girls individual first round at Youghiogheny CC

Oct. 3: WPIAL individual championship final round at Valley Brook CC

Oct. 17-19: PIAA championships at Penn State

Quaker Valley’s Bulger set to begin quest for 4th WPIAL golf title

By: Ray Fisher 
Sunday, July 10, 2022 | 10:01 AM

High school golf starts in a month.

That’s when Quaker Valley senior Eva Bulger officially will begin her quest to win a fourth consecutive WPIAL Class 2A championship.

Although if you ask Bulger, it’s more about team goals than personal aspirations.

Quaker Valley does not have a girls golf program, so Bulger, and a few other girls, compete on the boys team.

“I’m committed to doing all I can to help our team be successful this season,” she said. “My teammates are awesome. We are excited about the upcoming season and are all singularly focused on a team championship in ‘22. Our coach has been supportive and great.”

Last year, the left-handed Bulger became just the third player in WPIAL girls golf history to win three straight individual championships.

Bulger carded a 72 at Hannastown Golf Club in Greensburg — including an eagle on No. 18 — to capture the WPIAL title by four strokes over then-senior Meghan Zambruno of Greensburg Central Catholic.

Bulger joined Jodi Figley of Hopewell (1983-86) and Caroline Wrigley of North Allegheny (2016-18) as three-time champions.

“I just tried to play my game. I’m happy with how I played,” the talented Bulger said afterwards.

Bulger won the WPIAL Class 2A championship in 2019 with a 10-over par 82 at Diamond Run. As a sophomore, she improved her winning score by five strokes at Allegheny Country Club.

The 5-foot-4 Bulger also earned her second straight sectional medalist honor last year, reeling in the Section 1-2A title by six strokes with a 5-over 76.

Bulger has been preparing for the 2022 season with appearances in the Women’s Western Junior at Aurora Country Club in Chicago, the recent Pennsylvania Junior Girls championship in Lebanon, Pa., plus a couple of American Junior Golf Association events.

“I practice and work on basic fundamentals daily,” she said.

One of Bulger’s best rounds of the summer was her 75 attained at Lebanon Country Club at the PJG championship.

“My favorite golf course is the one I’m playing that day,” Bulger said. “I know that I tried my best (at Lebanon), and know I gave it my all.”

Bulger participated in soccer for several years but decided to focus on golf, a game she began playing at an early age.

“My mother used to take my older brothers and I to the golf course at a pretty young age,” she said. “I think I played in a kids golf tournament for the first time at age 9. Most of the girls I first met then are still at it and have become really good players and friends.”

Bulger said she doesn’t have a particular strength when on the links.

“It seems to change depending on the day,” she said.

Three other returning starters for the Quakers are seniors Jackson Bould and Adam Renner and sophomore Ethan Dai.

“I know Eva and Jackson have been working hard on their games this summer and have participated in a number of tournaments, as well,” QV coach Greg Vecchi said. “They both are top-of-the-class golfers because they love it and work so hard at getting better.

“Ethan Dai falls into that same category. He is very impressive, as well, as he showed last year as a starting freshman. And with Adam Renner being a senior this season, we have a strong core coming back.”

Bould has advanced to the WPIAL finals all three years of his high school career. Dai also qualified last season.

“I wouldn’t say it’s an expectation of mine to win WPIALs and states, both individual and team, but it’s definitely a huge goal I’m aiming for,” Bould said. “I think I’ve done pretty well so far in my high school golf career, with a couple of peaks and also valleys along the way — thinking back to my success as an individual late last year and also our challenges as a team at Cedarbrook the last couple of years.”

Bould, who has a 4.33 GPA, also is a member of the QV baseball team as a pitcher/first baseman. He was one of the anchors of the pitching staff this spring, compiling a 2-2 record with 20 strikeouts in 22 2/3 innings.

The athletic Bould has been competing in various amateur and junior golf tournaments this summer.

“I’m looking forward my senior season,” he said. “I’m super excited. We have four returning starters and young talent to add in. It should be a lot of fun and a great opportunity.”