EF’s Morgan finishes as runner-up in WPIAL

The WPIAL crowned its WPIAL Class 3A girls golf champion as Peters Township junior Ellie Benson went wire-to-wire, maintaining her lead throughout the final round for a 5-over 149. She closed with a 2-over 74 to win by eight over Elizabeth Forward junior and defending champion Mya Morgan, who won last year by 12 shots over Benson to take the title at Diamond Run Golf Club.

Benson, who opened with a 75, was asked how much sleep she got the night before the final round.

After all, she led by two going into the final round last year and lost by a dozen.

“None,” she said. “It was like Christmas Eve. You can’t sleep.”

The first WPIAL girls golf champion from Peters Township probably will sleep a lot better after a final round that included three birdies, 12 pars and four bogies in rain that started as a sprinkle and turned into a constant downpour.

She drove the ball well and stayed out of trouble, avoiding the left side most of the day.

“My coach and I worked on my swing because I had been over-drawing everything,” Benson said. “He showed me this drill, and I got up in the middle of night and (rehearsed) it. That was one of the biggest adjustments I made.”

Benson shot 35 on the front nine to increase her lead to six.

“I let everyone else complain about the rain,” she said. “I had to ignore it and trust my setup and routine. Everything felt easy today. I played with confidence.”

The long-hitting Morgan said a sticky first round prevented her from a repeat. She opened with an 81 and finished with a 76.

Conditions did not allow her to press to try to make up ground.

“I didn’t play my best in the first round and let the course get the best of me,” Morgan said. “Ellie has progressed so much. I could never be more proud of her. She is very consistent.”

Morgan also had three birdies, including two on par 5s.

Sophomore Sienna Smith of Pine-Richland finished third at plus-14.

Peters Township freshman Betty Glyptis shot 77 Monday to take fourth.

The top seven in 3A qualified to play in the PIAA championships Oct. 2122 at Penn State.

The 3A qualifiers are: Benson, Morgan, Smith, Glyptis, senior Sophia Severns of Peters Township (+18), senior Brooke Vowcheck of Peters Township (+24), and sophomore Liv DeGori of Moon (+24).