​BELL ACRES — Throughout the past six months, West Allegheny High School boys golfer Nico Ward has been on an incredible run. From being one step away from qualifying for the 2026 U.S. Open to tying a course record during the high school golf season, Ward has had a year to remember for someone who is only a junior in high school. At the WPIAL 3A boys high school golf championships on Monday, Oct. 5 at Sewickley Heights Golf Club, Ward’s impressive year continued, capturing gold for the first time in his career. “I just hung in there all day, didn’t make many mistakes and played bogey-free golf,” Ward said. “I knew that if I could continue to apply pressure throughout the round, everything would work out.”The win for Ward marks just the third individual champion to come from West Allegheny, joining Harry Hamilton (1968) and Mike Phillips (1970-71). Coming into the final round four shots off the lead, the junior needed just two birdies to win the title, finishing by carding a 70 (-2).  “I knew that I had to come out today, play solid and not make any stupid mistakes,” Ward said. “I was hitting fairways and greens pretty much all day and giving myself birdie looks, so I am proud of myself for that.”As Ward wrapped up his WPIAL individual season and now sets his sights on the PIAA golf championships, he has had one of the more unique runs that a high school golfer could have. Required Reading: Moon Area’s Liv DeGori captures WPIAL 3A girls golf individual titleRequired Reading: Ellwood City boys high school golf breaks 31-year old school course recordRequired Reading: West Allegheny’s Nico Ward plays in final U.S. Open qualifyingAn experience like no otherBack in the spring, Ward’s year began at the U.S. Open qualifying on May 12 at Weymouth Country Club in Medina, OH, surviving a five-hole playoff and finishing birdie-birdie to card a 69. With that score, the junior went on to play on golf’s longest day, finishing +5 at Springfield Country Club in June. Ward pulled back on his experience playing alongside some of the world’s best golfers as he was competing for gold in the WPIAL’s final round to help him capture gold. “The U.S. Open pins were unreal. Some were in some diabolical spots, so to come out here and face some dicey pin locations, it wasn’t so bad compared to what I was used to playing,” Ward said. Leading the chargeThe momentum that Ward gained from participating in U.S. Open qualifying carried into the high school season as he and his West Allegheny teammates rolled through section play. With Ward leading the way as the team’s top golfer in the lineup, West Allegheny captured its first section title since 2010, posting an 11-1 mark, with its lone section loss coming against Moon Area. The trio of golfers consisting of Ward, fellow junior Levi Vaughn and sophomore Ethan Bobonski have all had impressive seasons, with the trio qualifying for the WPIAL championships, with Ward (-1), Bobonski (+