Ben Reese hands out his year-end golf ‘awards’ for the 2012 SOL season.
By Ben Reese
At the end of every season, speculation starts among the galleries about the top of the heap from the preceding year.
Golf is no different. After the Suburban One League demonstrated to the rest of the state how dominant its golfers are, it looks like a good time to make some selections.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR (FEMALE):Usually these type of stories begin with the male player of the year, but with a second straight PIAA crown to her credit, Erica Herr of Council Rock North definitely gets the nod here first.
Erica parlayed a first-round 72 at Heritage Hills Golf Resort and Conference Center in York with a final-round 68 to run away with the state championship by seven strokes. She won the 2011 version by five shots.
She finished tied for third in the Eastern Regional at Golden Oaks and third at the District One tourney at Turtle Creek. That more than qualified her for the top spot.
But it wasn't a total runaway because Erica got lots of competition from Pennsbury's Jackie Rogowicz.
Jackie finished second in the states, second in the regionals and second in the districts.
Also having standout seasons were Central Bucks East's Ashley Cassidy and Council Rock North freshman Madelein Herr.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR (MALE):This might have been one of the more difficult decisions. However, considering his tie for fifth at the states, CR North's Zach Herr keeps it in the family.
Zach tied for third at the district tourney and was tied for 13th at the Eastern Regional.
He will be continuing his education and his golf as a scholarship athlete at Vanderbilt University in Nashville.
Stewart Rickenbach of CB East, Andrew Carber of Upper Dublin and Wissahickon's Jalen Griffin also had outstanding seasons. Griffin advanced to states, Rickenbach and Carber to regionals. Carber had the highlight shot at the districts, acing the ninth hole at Turtle Creek.
PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR (TEAM):Based on the reported league match scores, the match of the year went to Council Rock North. The Indians turned in a low score of 181 in beating William Tennent.
Zach Herr led the way with a 32 at Jericho National Country Club followed by James Twomey's 36, Erica Herr's 37, Austin Fugelstad's 38 and Madelein Herr's 38.
Plymouth Whitemarsh turned in a 182 in a win over Cheltenham at Melrose Country Club.
MATCH OF THE YEAR:It was a tough choice between the first or second match between Pennsbury and Council Rock North or Plymouth Whitemarsh’s sweep of both Upper Dublin and Wissahickon in a tri-match to close out the regular season, which gave the Colonials a share of the American Conference’s top spot.
Because of the closeness of the score, the second match between Pennsbury and CR North slightly beats out the first. Pennsbury won the second match by four shots, 186-190, but it wasn't enough to beat CR North for the National Conference title.
In the second match for the Falcons, Jackie Rogowicz topped the scorers with a 1-under 35. Vinay Ramesh contributed a 37, Ryan Foll at 37, Craig Meschel a 38 and Dylan del Vecchio a 39. For the Indians, Madelein Herr shot an even-par 36 trailed by Zach Herr at 37, Erica Herr at 38, Austin Fuglestad at 39 and James Twomey at 40.
In a tri-match that included a pair of must-wins for the Colonials, PW defeated Upper Dublin 203-209 and also downed Wissahickon 203-206. As a result, PW and Upper Dublin finished league play with identical 13-1 records.
PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR (MALE):Andrew Carber of Upper Dublin has so much talent that he is weighing college offers for golf, basketball and baseball. But it was his prowess with the sticks which got him the nod here.
In one of the earlier matches of the season, Carber put together four straight birdies at Gulph Mills Country Club to shoot a 4-under 31.
Others in consideration were Zach Herr (32 at Jericho National, 33 at Bensalem Country Club, 33 at Five Ponds, 34 at Middletown Country Club), Stewart Rickenbach (33 at Pinecrest Country Club, 34 at Lookaway Golf Course), Hatboro-Horsham's Tom Fisher (34 at Talamore Country Club, 35 at Fox Hollow Golf Club), James Twomey of Council Rock North (34 at Jericho National), Plymouth Whitemarsh's Evan Beaty (34 at Melrose), Jess Hunsicker of Wissahickon (34 at Jeffersonville Golf Club, 35 at Huntingdon Valley, 35 at Meadowlands Country Club), Jalen Griffin (35 at Sandy Run Country Club, 35 at Jeffersonville), CB East's Mitch Gepner (35 at Talamore), Vinay Ramesh of Pennsbury (35 at Pinecrest) and Ryan Kelly of Hatboro-Horsham (35 at Talamore).
PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR (FEMALE):Three girls share the top reported score. They are Jackie Rogowicz of Pennsbury, Council Rock North's Madelein Herr and CB East's Ashley Cassidy with 35s.
Rogowicz shot her 35 in the Pennsbury win over North at Yardley Country Club; Madelien Herr's 35 came at Jericho National; and Cassidy shot her 35 at Fox Hollow.
Cassidy, Erica Herr and Madelein all shot 36s. Cassidy's came at Pinecrest, Erica's at Huntingdon Valley and Madelein's at Jericho National.
Cassidy and Rogowicz also turned in 37s, Cassidy's at Talamore and Rogowicz at Yardley.
BEST TEAM:That can only go to the Council Rock North team which finished second at states, losing to Manheim Township by two strokes, 299-301.
In that match, Zach shot an even-par 71, Madelein a 75, Erica a 76, Twomey a 79 and Fugelstad an 89. The first four scores counted toward the team total.
BEST STORY:This one belongs to Central Bucks West senior Sean Ebert.
Ebert competed in the SOL championships, the District One Championships, the Eastern Regionals and the PIAA Championships.
What makes this the best story is Ebert wasn't the No. 1 player on his team. He just managed to peak at the right time.
He finished tied for 12th at the Suburban One League tournament, tied for 11th at the districts, tied for 13th at the regionals and 35th at states. That's quite an accomplishment for a golfer who had never advanced past the SOL tourney.
That's it for another year. Hit 'em straight and long.
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