Three girls and six boys will represent the SOL at next week’s Eastern Regionals. Ben Reese recaps Tuesday’s District One Tournament action. Photos provided by Larry Small. CLICK HERE to view the gallery.
By Ben Reese
LIMERICK -- Tuesday was a special day for Sarah Scarpill.
It wasn't the Central Bucks East senior's birthday or anything dramatic like that. But it was a day of notable achievement.
For the first time in her golfing career, Scarpill broke par. She shot a second-round 71, one under par, at Turtle Creek Golf Course in the second round of the District One golf tournament.
Pairing it with the 76 she shot in the first round, it was enough to elevate her into fourth place behind winner Sydney Yermish of Lower Merion, Jade Gu of Pennsbury and Wissahickon's Elizabeth Beek. Scarpill finished the two rounds three over par.
It was a bit accomplishment for her. And she knew it.
"I knew the stakes coming into today," she said. "I knew that I was tied for eighth out of 15.
"I knew that I needed to play well today. And that's exactly what I did.
"I was on fire. Last year, I made the cut (after the first round of districts) and I just wanted to do it again more than anything."
She started out with a birdie on the first hole and then birdied the third and ninth for a 34 on the front nine. She did bogey No. 6 and No. 15 to come home with the 1-under 71.
"My putter was insane," she said with a laugh. "I made everything.
"I was just on a roll. I made two bogeys on the entire day. Normally, I make two bogeys on at least both of the nines."
Now that she will be advancing to the Eastern Regionals at Golden Oaks on Monday, Oct. 14, how does she feel?
"I was there last year," Scarpill said. "I'm looking for redemption. I didn't play too well. I'm ready.
"Today was a really nice way to get me ready for next week.”
And she will be ecstatic if she stays as locked in as she was on Tuesday.
"That should be good enough to go to states,” Scarpill said. “I haven't been to states yet.
"I just want to prove to myself that I'm as good, if not better, than these girls."
If Tuesday’s round is any indication, the girls at regionals had better keep an eye on Scarpill.
As for the other girls from the Suburban One League at districts, only Gu and Beek advanced to the Eastern Regionals. Gu finished second with a 73 on Tuesday to give her a 2-under 141 and Beek was third with a 72 and a 1-under 142.
For Gu, things didn't seem to go right from the beginning.
"It was pretty rough," she said. "Putting was definitely a big problem today.
"Nothing seemed to drop. A lot of 3-putts but it's OK. Nothing really went right."
Beek was just the opposite. She indicated that her putting was spot on.
"I played pretty good judging for the wind," she explained. "That was my main struggle.
"My putting went really well. I didn't have a lot of birdie putts because of the distance by judging the wind wrong. Saving-par putts really helped me."
The SOL boys advanced six golfers into the Eastern Regionals. Dylan Gooneratne of Plymouth Whitemarsh led the way in a tie for second place. CB West's Kevin Lydon tied for fifth with Milo Jezzeny of CB West and Pennridge's Brendan Bauer tied for eighth, Christian Matt of Wissahickon and Jack Dunsmore of CB East tied for 10th.
Gooneratne had the best day for the SOL boys with a second-round 72 to go with his 74 in the first round to tie with Holy Ghost Prep's Calen Sanderson at 146. They both trailed Josh Ryan of Norristown, who finished at 143.
"I'm really happy with how I played today," Gooneratene said. "I was able to come out here, build off what I did yesterday and fix a couple things in my swing. I was able to get it done which I am super-thrilled about.
"My putting (went well). I made a couple of long ones and I was able to save 3- or 4-footers for par."
How does it feel to make it to regionals?
"It's amazing," he said. "That was my goal coming into this year, to make it out of districts. To do that is something. I can't believe it just happened.
"My whole team is here (competing for the team berth at states). They supported me and they're happy and that makes it so much better."
Gooneratne wasn't the only one with advancing to regionals as a goal. Both Bauer and Lydon felt the same way.
"It's great to be able to move on," said Bauer. "I made the cut last year (after the first round at districts) but wasn't able to make it to regionals."
Putting also saved the day for Bauer.
"I definitely had some blow-up holes but I made crucial putts just like yesterday that saved me a few strokes," he said. "It only takes one good shot to save a hole so I had that a couple times. That saved me."
Jezzeny struggled, especially on the back nine. He had a birdie and a bogey on the front but had four bogeys on the back.
"I kind of fell apart on the back nine," he said. "I was shocked to have made it at the end.
"The hooks started coming and I missed about five putts inside of 10 feet. I just couldn't get anything to fall.
"I'm happy about (moving on). Just improve over today. I can definitely make an improvement."
The Eastern Regionals will be held at Golden Oaks Golf Course in Fleetwood on Monday, October 14. It will be a shotgun start.
In the team competition, Strath Haven beat out Pennsbury for the right to represent District One at the state tournament.
Boys qualifiers for Eastern Regionals
Josh Ryan, Norristown 71-72--143
Calen Sanderson, Holy Ghost 74-72--146
Dylan Gooneratne, PW 74-72--146
Andrew Wallace, Harriton 75-72--147
Kevin Lydon, CB West 74-73--147
Jack Cooley, Unionville 73-77--150
Ryan Dariano, WC Rustin 76-75--151
Milo Jezzeny, CB West 74-78--152
Brendan Bauer, Pennridge 74-78--152
Morgan Lofland, Conestoga 78-75--153
John Engle, Boyertown 77-76--153
Christian Matt, Wissahickon 76-77--153
David Fitzgerald, Harriton 73-80--153
Jack Dunsmore, CB East 75-78--153
Conrad Benford OJ Roberts 77-76--153
*Jack Hamilton, Radnor 77-77--154
*Roy Anderson, Unionville 78-76--154
*Jeff Cooper, Methacton 76-78--154
-- won playoff
Girls qualifiers for Eastern Regionals
Sydney Yermish, L. Merion 65-71--136
Jade Gu, Pennsbury 68-73--141
Elizabeth Beek, Wissahickon 70-72--142
Sarah Scarpill, CB East 76-71--147
Riley Quartermain, Haverford 76-74--150
Victoria Kim, WC East 76-75--151
Grace Smith, Strath Haven 78-74--152
Mary Dunigan, Unionville 76-77--153
Ava O'Sullivan, Down. East 74-80--154
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