Butler junior wins prestigious tourney by 2 strokes

John EnriettoEagle Staff Writer

October 5, 2020 Other High School Sports 

Butler junior Paige Scott is all smiles after winning the AJGA VM Sports Championship golf tournament at Westmoreland Country Club.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Talk about a well-timed win.

On the weekend before the WPIAL team and individual championships, Butler junior Paige Scott won the American Junior Golf Association's (AJGA) VM Sports Championship at Westmoreland Country Club.

Paige shot a 10-over-par 154 — a 77 Saturday and Sunday — in beating out Gianna Papa by two strokes. Papa is the top-ranked high school girls golfer in Rhode Island.

Paige topped a 25-female golfer field in winning.

“This is the biggest tournament there is for AJGA,” she said. “Winning that one will qualify me for pretty much any tournament I want to enter.”

Golfers could play in the VM Sports Championship by invitation only. Entries were secured by points — or “stars” — accrued from participation and successes in previous tournaments.

Three girls — Hannah Rabb from Pennsylvania, Julia Zigrossi and Lucia Chen from New York — tied for third.

Paige trailed Papa by two strokes following Saturday's round.

“Because of COVID, you had to already be U.S.-bound to play in this tournament,” Paige said. “Golfers were from all over the country, along with China and Korea.

“I was tied for the lead with a couple of other girls with two holes left to play (Sunday). I just wanted to par out, not take any foolish chances.”

She did exactly that. Papa finished with a pair of bogies.

Butler will be playing in the WPIAL Team Championships for girls golf Monday at Connoquenessing Country Club. Paige will join Golden Tornado teammate Landis Ruth in the WPIAL Individual Championships Thursday at Oakmont Country Club.

“This win gives me more confidence, some momentum going into this week,” Paige said.

This marked the first year she played in the AJGA championship tournament.