STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Rockwood freshman Olivia Nichols leads area golfers as she is tied for fifth place through 18 holes of the two-day event at the PIAA championships.
On Penn State's Blue Course, District 5 and Inter-County Conference champ Nichols shot a 5-over 77 and is tied with District 6 champion and St. Joseph's Catholic Academy junior Olivia Koshko. Nichols birdied three holes.
Shady Side Academy's Alyssa Zhang leads by three strokes at 69.
Westmont Hilltop sophomore Gabby Filia is in a three-way tie for seventh place at 79. Filia, the District 6 runner-up and Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference champion, birdied twice. Chestnut Ridge sophomore Kaydence DuFour carded an 114.
Chestnut Ridge senior Colton Boozer is in a five-way tie for 37th place with a 6-over 78 in the boys tournament. Richland junior Wesley Dunlap is in a nine-way tie at 79. Westmont Hilltop senior Colby Carlson is tied with three others in 51st place with an 80. Bedford senior Trenton Ripple (83), Penn Cambria senior Colten Karlheim (85) and Somerset senior Ryder Shumaker (85) completed their first rounds.
Annville Cleona's Ben Allwein and Scranton Prep's Cole Powell are tied for first place with a 3-under 69.