A year ago, West Allegheny High School's Garrett Browning didn't make it out of his WPIAL golf sectional qualifier.

Yesterday, he became the state boys' champion, capturing the PIAA championship at Heritage Hills Golf Resort in York. He is the first sophomore to win a PIAA title since Brookville's Nathan Smith in 1994.

Browning finished the two-day tournament with a score of 144, one stroke ahead of Lower Merion's Greg Jarmas.

"I actually felt I could do something like this last year, but I had a bad round at [the WPIAL] sectionals," Browning said. "But I put it all together this year, and now this is where we are."

Browning shot 69 on the first day of the tournament Monday, but had a 40 on the front nine yesterday.

"It started to rain more on the back nine," Browning said. "I just felt if I could keep making pars and throw in a birdie, I still had a good shot."

Browning shot 35 on the back nine.

Belle Vernon's Bo Lustig finished fourth at 146. WPIAL champion Ben Gjebre of Latrobe tied for ninth with Central Catholic's Corey Wagner at 148.

Two WPIAL teams won PIAA team titles. Latrobe won the boys' championship with 609. Besides Gjebre, Latrobe's Sam Cline shot 149, Will Wears 151 and Dyland Marshall 161.

Shady Side Academy, led by Kendall Allen, took the PIAA girls' team title. Allen tied for ninth in the individual tournament with 163. Teammate Shannon Gramley also shot 163, Michelle Bucklew 182 and Lauren Laufe 199.

In the individual girls' tournament, Jackie Calamoro of Radnor won with 150. Butler's Marissa DeCola tied Allen and Gramley for ninth with 163. WPIAL champion Nadia Luttner of Fox Chapel tied for 14th with Kittanning's Ann Colligan at 165.

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