Westmoreland County Community College golfer excels in sport

By Paul Schofield/Tribune-Review

Published: Thursday, Nov. 7, 2013, 8:55 p.m.

 Tyler Robbins hasn't played competitive golf since his sophomore year at Greensburg Salem.

He played football instead.

But Robbins got the itch to play golf again last spring and he's glad he did.

The Westmoreland County Community College sophomore joined Hannastown Golf Club in Greensburg and spent the summer playing against his buddies and working on his game.

That hard work paid off as Robbins won both the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference and Pennsylvania Invitational Tournament this fall.

Now Robbins, a straight-A student, is looking to make a jump to a four-year school and play golf. He will have three years remaining to play since he didn't play as a freshman.

"Probably the hardest working golfer I've had on the team," Westmoreland County Community College coach George Lewark said. "Tyler is constantly playing and working out. We won't have any problems finding a school for him."

Robbins shot a 9-over-par 153 to win the WPCC tournament at The Links at Spring Church. He followed that with a 23-shot victory at the state tournament at Penn National Golf Club in Fayetteville, near Chambersburg. He shot a 1-under 143.

"I played well and the rest of the field struggled," Robbins said. "I hit the ball well off the tee, and it set up a lot of good shots and I made putts. I was happy how I played. I kept everything together."

Robbins led WCCC to a fifth state title. The previous titles came in 1988, 1989, 2006 and 2007. The team finished second to Butler County Community College in the WPCC. WCCC has won the WPCC nine times and finished second 11 times.

Backing Robbins' performance at the state tournament were Jeremy Houser (Derry), James Sarver (Latrobe) and Michael Halula (Latrobe).

WCCC finished with a 484 and Butler CCC was next with a 505.

"I had a nice lead after the first round, but I decided to keep the pressure on," Robbins said. "It was my first under-par round in competition.

"Playing and practicing at Hannastown prepared me for the tough tournaments. We play from the tips and the course is no joke."