Pitt-Johnstown’s golf team competed last weekend at conference championships, and the team ended their season in last place out of eight teams.

The conference invitational was held at Hershey Links Golf Course.

Senior Zack McQueen said the course was a good one.

“It was a links style course, so there was a lot of the high grass,” McQueen said.

Senior Mike Macionsky led the Mountain Cats. He tied for 16th place with four other golfers, posting a 153 score over two days.

He said he had a good first day, scoring a 73 but then returned the next day with seven additional strokes.

“I was disappointed after playing a nice first round,” Macionsky said.

McQueen said he went into the tournament feeling good, but said his efforts were not enough. He took 36th place.

“I just didn’t have it. I couldn’t get on a roll,” he said. ”I finished strong both days, but that wasn’t enough.”

The Mountain Cats have had a rough fall season. They placed last in three of the five invitationals this season with the two others being second-to-last place.

McQueen said it was tough to perform well as a team.

“We are a team of two seniors and three freshmen, it’s tough to compete when only one of us can post good scores,” he said.

Macionsky said the team did not do as well as they hoped for, but showed improvement that they will take into their spring season.

He said the team needs to focus on their consistency.

“(We need to) be able to put good rounds together as a team and play more consistently,” Macionsky said.

He said he was not happy with how his performance this season.

“I couldn’t get into a comfort zone.”

McQueen said he plans to work through the off-season, so he can place higher along with Macionsky, which might start placing the team higher during their spring invitationals.

“I plan on working on strengthening my swing,” he said.

McQueen said he plans to lift regularly to improve strength combined with stretching exercises to improve flexibility.

He said he plans to do as much as he possibly can to break out of his slump.

“This is it for me,” he said. “I don’t want to be left thinking ‘What if?”

He said he plans to make use of Pitt-Johnstown’s indoor driving simulator as well. He said he was not happy with how his season went as a whole.

“I couldn’t get into a comfort zone.”

The three freshmen who played at the conference all placed low. McQueen said this was a vital step to help them in the future.

“This was a learning experience for them. They learned what their swing can do and what they need to improve,” he said.

McQueen said the blame does not lie with the freshmen because he understands how hard it is getting used to the new play style.

“You can’t expect a lot out of freshmen. This is all new (to them),” he said. “I was in their shoes as a freshman.”