Ben Reese recaps day two of the SOL in the District One Tournament. Photos provided courtesy of Larry Small. Check back for a gallery of photos. All SOS photo galleries for GOLF can be viewed by clicking HERE.
By Ben Reese
LIMERICK — Tuesday was a banner day for Suburban One League golfers.
On the second day of the District One Golf Tournament, the 18 AAA boys and nine AAA girls and the two AA boys who would be advancing to the PIAA Golf Tournament would be determined.
Of those 29 golfers advancing to states, 14 of them will come from the SOL. And, while no SOL golfer won the district title, all 14 of them proved their worth on the course.
Tops on that list is AA golfer Malcolm Raupp of New Hope Solebury. His 75-82–157 was good enough to win the AA title, one spot ahead of teammate Nate Wiseman, who finished at 160, winning a playoff to advance to states.
Right behind them is Rhianna Gooneratne of Plymouth Whitemarsh. She shot a second-round 74 to go with her first-day 68 for a 142 total, good enough for a tie for second place in AAA girls.
The top AAA boy is Central Bucks South’s Noah Moelter. He fired a 1-under 71 which, paired with his opening 72, got him a fourth place finish.
All told, four boys and four girls finished the tournament under par. That includes the boys AAA medalist Nick Gross of Downingtown West, who shot a district record 14-under par 130, beating the old mark of 12-under by Kyle Vance of Methacton.
For Raupp states was something to look forward to.
“I’m excited,” he said. “My brother goes to Penn State, so I’ll go up there for a couple days, see him. I’m looking forward to it.”
That sentiment was echoed by every one of the golfers who are advancing. Everyone is anxious to get to states.
“It feels good,” said Gooneratne of making states. “That was my goal.
“I just wanted to get there. I’m happy that I did.”
Andrew Zazoff of Council Rock North was a bit amazed.
“That’s crazy,” he said.
And he had good reason to feel that way.
“This is my first year ever playing competitive golf,” he explained. “My first high school match of the season was my first match ever. Now I’m here.”
And it is amazing that Zazoff is even going to states. Let him explain.
“On eight, I had a little driver mishap,” he said. “I couldn’t use my driver until the last three holes when they redid my driver.
“Someone shanked their ball (off the tee) and threw their club backwards. I was just standing there (waiting to tee off) and it snapped my driver in half.”
That knocked out his driver for much of the round.
“On eight, I had to hit a 5-wood on the par-5 and I birdied it. I didn’t get my driver back until hole 16.”
Unfortunately, after birdying Nos. 2 and 8, he bogeyed 9, 10, 12, 13, 16, 17 and 18, shooting a second round 78 to tie for 13th. He was the last golfer to make states.
CB East’s Will Dunsmore was flabbergasted.
“I don’t really have words right now,” he said. “It’s a good feeling to have.”
For several of the players, making states was the culmination of many hours of hard work.
“It feels good,” said Chase Feraco of CB West. “This senior year is my first time doing it. Obviously, it feels good to get it done my last year.”
His West teammate Abby Lynn had a similar reaction to making states.
“I’ve been one stroke off two years ago,” she said, “and then I was one position off last year. I’ve been close each year, so I feel good to finally grab ahold of states and go.”
Moelter had the best day on the course. He was the only SOL golfer to shoot under par in his second round.
“I didn’t really have a goal like a number when I started the round,” he said. “I’m happy that I could come out and make a good amount of birdies and a few bogeys.
“I was hoping for something in the low 70s to get me into states. When I came into this, I knew I had a chance to go to states. I think I would have been more disappointed if I didn’t make it.”
Well, he did make it. And he made it the way he planned.
He opened his round with birdies at No. 1 and No. 4. But he gave those strokes back with bogeys on 5 and 10. However he salvaged his sub-par round with a birdie on the 13th hole.
Feraco got off to a great start. He was 3-under after the first five holes. But then difficulties struck.
“I was 3-under through the first five,” he said. “And then I go on to miss a 4-footer on 6 for par and on eight I had a little back foot slip on the tee and went OB (out of bounds). That’s a double there.
“I was missing putts throughout the round. I was kind of just scraping together holes. I got to 16, made a birdie on 16, parred 17 and made a birdie on 18.”
Ekert saved her best for the second day of districts.
“I was 1-under on the front,” she said. “It was my best this year. (But) I doubled the second to last hole which was pretty disappointing.
“I was just really consistent. I was just finally able to put everything together.”
Everyone is also excited to be going to play at Penn State after having the state tournament played at Heritage Hills in York for a number of years.
“I think the course at Penn State plays a lot easier than Heritage Hills,” Ekert said. “Heritage Hills has some ‘interesting’ shots that you have to play whereas Penn State is a lot more open.”
“I’m happy,” said Moelter. “Get to go to Penn State for two days.
“It’s a course where I can play well. I’ve played it a bunch so I think I can score well.”
Ekert probably echoed every golfer’s feeling toward states.
“I’m pretty hyped about that,” she said and then added with a laugh. “I’ve got to win states next.”
The other SOL golfers who have advanced to state play are Danny Flaherty of Springfield (tied for 8, 76-75–151), CB West’s Ryan Quinn (T-8, 76-75–151), Evan Rosenstein of Plymouth Whitemarsh (T-13, 77-76–153), Council Rock North’s Nick Riscica (T-13, 77-76–153) and Adam Fluehr of Springfield (T-13, 76-77–153).
The PIAA State Golf Championship will be held on Monday, October 17 and Tuesday, October 18. The AAA golfers will play the White Course and the AA golfers will play the Blue Course. The team championships will be held on Wednesday, October 18, with the AAA teams on the Blue Course and the AA teams on the White Course.
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