Six SOL golfers – three boys and three girls – advanced to the PIAA Championships at Penn State. Ben Reese recaps the action day two. Photos courtesy of Larry Small. Check back for a gallery of photos: https://solsports.zenfolio.com/f637137371
By Ben Reese
LIMERICK — There was a lot of elation and a bit of disappointment with the Suburban One League representatives at the District One Golf Tournament, which ended on Tuesday at Turtle Creek Golf Course.
For the eight boys and three girls who advanced to the second day of district play, it was a good — and a bad — day. In all, three boys and all three girls are moving on to the PIAA Golf Championships at Penn State.
While all six golfers were very excited to be taking the next step in the golfing process in the state, perhaps one of them was a bit more ecstatic than the other five.
Alli Engart of Souderton secured the final spot of the nine available for the girls to get the trip to Penn State. It was particularly fitting for her this year.
“Last year, I placed tenth in districts, so I just missed the cut for states,” she said. “I was really afraid that was going to happen again, so I feel really good now that I made it.”
Brent Glah of Hatboro-Horsham had a similar experience. He missed states by two strokes last year. On the trip home from districts, he told his coach, Mike Harmon, “I’m making states next year.” A prophecy fulfilled.
Of course, they aren’t the only ones who are happy. Joining Engart on the girls side are Rhianna Gooneratne of Plymouth Whitemarsh and Upper Dublin’s Talia Hoffner.
Moving on to states for the boys are Adam Fluehr of Springfield and Upper Dublin’s Cole Coffey.
Fluehr finished tied for second with Charlie Ferrise of Spring-Ford at 146, three shots behind medalist Sam Feeney of West Chester Rustin. Glah was tied for fifth at 148 and Coffey was tied for ninth at 151.
Gooneratne grabbed third place behind the Phoenixville duo of Kate Roberts (first at 145) and Kayley Roberts (second at 146). And yes, they are sisters. Hoffner was seventh at 155 and Engart grabbed the final spot at 159.
How about states? Is everybody ready for it?
“It feels good,” said Fluehr. “I went last year so I know what to expect.
“I’m excited for what it holds. Last year, I didn’t have any predictions going in, and I shot even the first day. Five-over, finished horribly the last day.”
Glah echoed both Engart and Fluehr.
“I’m excited,” he said. “I like Penn State. I’ve been up there a couple times, played the course. This should be fun.”
Gooneratne, Hoffner and Coffey were all of the same mind.
“I’m excited,” Gooneratne said. “I just have practice to do beforehand, but hopefully I can score well.”
“I’m happy about (reaching states),” said Hoffner. “That’s all that matters.”
As for Coffey, he had only one thought.
“I’m not sure where I finished,” he said, “but all I know is I’m going to states. I feel like a million.”
As for the down swing, Quakertown’s Brady Gallagher, who was the SOL medalist with Fluehr, missed the cut. He finished 22nd at 155. Eighteen boys and nine girls advanced to the state tourney.
“It was tough,” Gallagher said. “I tried my best.
“I really don’t feel like I did anything wrong. I just didn’t get any putts to drop today.”
He lipped out a par putt on the 18th green, settling for a bogey.
“That kind of described the whole day,” he said.
As for the golf for the other six, it was an up and down day all around. At one point or another, everyone was in distress and could have been eliminated from the chase for spots.
Only Glah and Coffey felt that their play was good.
“Today was a great day,” Glah said. “I started out really strong. On the back, I had a couple 3-putts but it was a good day.
“Today, I was hitting greens. My putting wasn’t on, but I hit greens which helped out a lot.”
Coffey, who was happy with his tee ball on Monday, had another aspect of his game helping him out on Tuesday.
“My wedge play was really, really good today,” he said. “I got up and down a couple times when I really needed to. Inside 100 yards, I felt like I was putting it within 10 feet consistently.”
That differs with the way Fluehr, Hoffner and Gooneratne felt things went in the second round.
“I was hitting the ball good,” Fluehr said. “Just nothing was falling.
“On the 17th hole, I hit another tee shot left into the trees. I just had nothing except this little window (between the trees) and I hit this 5-iron just over the green, chipped up and made about a 20-footer for par. That was about the only putt that fell today.”
However, Fluehr did pull another one off on the 18th. His drive went into the trees again. He punched out, leaving himself with 200+ yards to the green.
“I had 200 yards and decided to go for it, which wasn’t the smartest decision,” Fluehr explained. “Then I hit a 6-iron to within half a foot, 200 down wind, downhill. That was probably one of the better shots I hit all day.”
Hoffner, at the end of the round, was certain she had missed the cut.
“(On the back nine) I think I just got nervous,” she said. “I was even through 14 and the last few holes I knew I was coming in even and just got into my head. I’m still not happy about my round though.”
For Gooneratne, it was more expectations than anything.
“It was not a great day today,” she said. “It happens.
“I think my drives were pretty straight, accurate. I was able to give myself some good looks.
“I just wasn’t able to execute with birdies (because of the putting). The putting just wasn’t there.”
Now it is on to Penn State and the PIAA championships. They will be played on October 16-18 on the Penn State Blue and White courses.
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