Local golfers set to compete at NJCAA national championship

Ryan Skladany, a Gateway graduate and student at the Community College of Allegheny County, Boyce Campus, leads a local contingent of golfers to the National Junior College Athletic Association’s Division III National Golf Championship on Tuesday through Friday at Chautauqua Golf Club in Chautauqua, N.Y.

Skladany earned the trip to nationals as he captured his second straight Region XX Tournament title May 21 at Oakview Gold Club in Slippery Rock.

He finished with a low score of 149 over the two-day tournament, besting 19 other golfers from two-year colleges in the region.

“As this is Ryan’s second trip to the national championship, he has the knowledge and the experience to be competitive in a tournament of this magnitude,” said Frank Kaufman, Skladany’s coach. “I anticipate that Ryan will play very well next week and will challenge for All-American honors against a strong field of NJCAA golfers.”

Max Reda, a New Brighton graduate and student at CCAC’s North Campus, finished in the top five of the individual regional standings (169) and earned his first berth to nationals, which will feature a field of 84 golfers.

Skladany tied for 50th out of 87 competitors last year.

Butler County Community College captured the Region XX team title and will take part in the national team tournament at Chautauqua.

The team’s golfers – Tucker Skerbetz (Laurel High School), Luke Ostermeyer (Laurel), Noah Morgan (Allegheny Clarion Valley), Tyler Johnson (Armstrong) and Carmen Oliva (Neshannock) – also will compete for individual honors.

The top 18 individual finishers earn All-American status.

There will be 18 holes of stroke play each day through Friday. There is no cut.