Sometimes if you stay patient, things work out for you.

West Allegheny junior Nico Ward can attest to that.

Ward never led the WPIAL Class 3A individual golf championship until the final hole Monday.

He trailed Central Catholic junior Bailey Donahue and Fox Chapel senior Carson Kittsley by as many as five stokes on the back nine at Sewickley Heights Golf Club during his bogey-free 2-under-par 70.

But Donahue and Kittsley failed to seal the deal, and Ward swooped in for the win.

“It means a lot to be a WPIAL champion,” Ward said. “I was a little frustrated with my round. I missed some birdie putts. I was able to grind out some pars, and I cannot complain.”

Ward said the key was staying calm.

“I played solid all day,” he said. “I am looking forward to states. It should be a lot of fun. I have played the (Penn State) White Course before.”

Donahue entered the final 18 holes with a three-shot lead on Kittsley. He shot a 3-under 67 at Hannastown Golf Club on Sept. 28.

Donahue and Kittsley were tied at 3-under through 14 holes, but Kittsley fell two shots back after a double-bogey 6 on No. 15. He also bogeyed 16 and 17.

Donahue approached No. 17 with a two-shot lead on Ward and three on Kittsley.

Then, disaster struck. Donahue’s second shot ended up in a fairway bunker. His shot from the sand landed short of the green and rolled 20 feet down the hill.

He then chunked his next shot and ended up with a double-bogey 7 and tied with Ward.

On No. 18, Donahue’s drive ended up out of bounds, and he had to re-hit his drive. He ended up with a double-bogey 6.

Kittsley missed his birdie attempt for the tie, and Ward two-putted for par and the victory at 1-under.

Baldwin senior Michael Quallich had the best round during the final 18 holes: a 3-under 69 that helped him finish second at even par.

This is the third time Quallich has qualified for the state tournament.

“I am looking forward to competing at Penn State,” Quallich said. “It was a solid round. I trusted my game plan. I struck the ball well, and my putting was pretty good.”

Quallich will be attending Notre Dame.

Kittsley and Donahue tied for third at 1-over. Kittsley was the returning WPIAL champion. He heads to Penn State looking for his third PIAA title.

“I just have to work harder and try to be a better player,” Kittsley said. “I had a really bad lie in the bunker on No. 15, and I was not feeling great over it, and I did not hit a great shot. I am proud how I played overall.”

The top 13 finishers advanced to the PIAA championship Oct. 19-20 at Penn State.

Others who qualified were Mt. Lebanon senior Max Pirain (6-over), Peters Township senior Camden Reyes (7-over), North Allegheny freshman (8-over), Trinity junior Gavin Bricker (10-over), Greensburg Salem junior Luke Sikora (10-over), Central Catholic senior Jack Dixon (10-over), West Allegheny sophomore Ethan Bobonski (11-over), Mt. Lebanon junior Blake Gavin (11-over) and West Allegheny junior Levi Vaughn (1-over). Blackhawk senior Joe Friedman (11-over) was eliminated in a playoff.

Sikora overcame a slow start and was able to make enough shots to qualify.

After a bogey on No. 17, he finished with a birdie on No. 18 by sinking a 15-foot downhill putt.

Sikora eagled No. 2 but triple-bogeyed No. 3. He stayed focused, and once he realized he was still in contention to qualify for states, he knew he needed another birdie or two. He also birdied No. 14.

“I kept making pars, and I had a birdie on No. 14 and I knew I had a chance,” Sikora said. “I knew how good some of the players were, so I was just trying to qualify.”

Sikora finished second in Class 2A in 2025.