Ben Reese recaps Monday’s SOL Golf Championship. Check the gallery of Keith Clemens' photos...CLICK HERE.
By Ben Reese
TELFORD -- The Suburban One League held its annual boys golf championship on Monday at Indian Valley Country Club.
And, as always, there were champions in all three conferences as well as a medalist for the entire league. Council Rock South's Lucas Clarke was the medalist and the National Conference champion with a 3-under 69; Central Bucks East's Hayden Rousselle took the Continental title with a 73; and Hayden Moffat of Hatboro-Horsham was the American Conference winner with a 74.
Those three should have provided enough excitement to last the league into next week. But there was more -- and different -- excitement during and after the round.
Plymouth Whitemarsh's Jon Green notched a hole in one during his round. It helped him to record an 85 for the 18 holes, but more on that later.
Let's let Green tell us about the ace.
"It was a great round because I had the hole in one," Green said. "It was the 11th hole, 201 yards up-hill. We figured it was close to 230. I pulled a 3 hybrid (out of my bag). I knew I hit it well.
"We thought back edge (of the green) all the way. As we were walking up the hill, the coach said 'Hole in one.' I said 'No way!' I'm just ecstatic; I'm speechless. (There's) no way to describe it."
How about the next hole, once the hole in one sunk in?
"Double bogey. How could you not,” Green said.
That would have been enough of a thrill for Green to last the rest of the week. But there was more to come.
According to the rules set down for selection of players to advance to the District One tournament, the Suburban One League is allowed to move 36 golfers on to the districts.
As several coaches recorded the scores as they came in, Green stood watching closely, hoping that his 85 would get him one week further. For a while, things didn't look good. There were a lot of golfers with scores lower than his.
But, in the end, with a yell of elation, Green discovered that he had just made the cut on the number. Another big plus - which was a possibility - he didn't have to get involved in a playoff for a spot at districts.
As for Clarke, Rousselle and Moffat, they had already ensured that they would be playing at Turtle Creek in two weeks. Their scores were the three lowest of the tournament.
Clarke, with his 3-under score, stood out. It was a departure from the 2015 SOL Championship, where he shot a 78.
What's the difference between last year and this year?
"I worked this winter, hitting a lot of balls this winter,” Clarke said, "I got a lot better with my game.
"I kind of hit a little further, more consistent. I've just become a better player this year."
That was obvious by the nine-stroke improvement over last year. One other thing was obvious: Clarke hit a lot of fairways.
"I probably hit 12 out of 14," he said. "I'm a lot happier today (compared to last year at SOLs)."
He also putted well.
"I thought the greens were rolling really good," Clarke said. "They were pretty fast but they rolled really true.
"I hit it close and made some putts. I didn't think it was too hard out there. I think I made five birdies today so that helped."
Rousselle and Moffat also had excellent days on the 6,493-yard course. They were one and two strokes over par respectively.
"I was hitting a lot of greens," Rousselle said. "On the back nine, I think I only missed one or two and on the front, I only missed one or two.
"My chipping was pretty good. I only missed a couple up-and-downs."
Moffatt had a similar time on the course.
"I hit a lot of fairways," he said. "And I putted pretty well."
He wasn’t bothered by the wind which strengthened later in the round.
"It made it a little tougher, but it wasn't too bad on most holes," Moffat said. "There were only a couple holes where it really made a difference."
Shane Nocito made a bit of history on Monday when he shot an 80 to finish in a tie for 10th and became the first Truman golfer since 2002 to earn a trip to districts. Cheltenham's Stephen DeFrancis also shot an 80 to finish in a tie for 10th, his top highest finish ever in the SOL Tournament. Prior to DeFrancis, it had been at least 10 years since a golfer from Cheltenham advanced to districts.
Council Rock South captured the wild card slot on the team side with a 321 score for four golfers. Making up the Golden Hawks' scorers were Clarke with his 69, Griffin Smith with an 80, Matt Fleming with an 84 and Simon Asadoorian with an 88. North Penn finished second with a 326.
However, CR South still has one match to play. If it wins, it will tie Pennsbury for the title and will advance in the team play with the Falcons.
Now, the 36 SOL representatives advance to the two-round District One Championship, which will be played at Turtle Creek Golf Course in Limerick on Oct. 10 and 11.
The girls Suburban One League Championship will be played on Tuesday, Oct. 4, at Five Ponds Golf Course in Warminster. The girls district tourney will begin at Gilbertsville Golf Course on Oct. 10 and finish up at Turtle Creek on Oct. 11.
SOL District Qualifiers
Lucas Clarke, Council Rock South 69
Hayden Rousselle, Central Bucks East 73
Hayden Moffat, Hatboro-Horsham 74
Andrew Lombardo, North Penn 76
Luca Jezzeny, CB West 77
Ron Robinson, North Penn 77
Matt Graeff, Wissahickon 77
Matt Becker, Central Bucks East 77
Dawson Anders, Souderton 78
Patrick Sheehan, CB East 78
Griffin Smith, Council Rock South 80
Shane Nocito, Harry Truman 80
Stephan DeFrancis, Cheltenham 80
Chris Benvenuto, Neshaminy 80
Ryan Borrmann, William Tennent 81
Matt Davis, CB East 81
Anthony Barr, Souderton 81
David Kim, Upper Dublin 82
Tom Butler, Souderton 82
Kevin Anthony, CB South 82
Matt Aprile, Plymouth Whitemarsh 82
Jake Butler, Plymouth Whitemarsh 82
Justin Friedman, Pennsbury 82
Colin Walsh, William Tennent 83
Colin Johnson, CB South 83
Connor Welles, Council Rock North 84
Matt Hebling, Upper Dublin 84
Evan Casey, CB South 84
Matt Fleming, Council Rock South 84
Nick Romano, North Penn 84
Calvin Suk, Quakertown 84
Noah Harrington, Wissahickon 85
Jon Green, Plymouth Whitemarsh 85
Ryan Kim, Pennsbury 85
Dan McCabe, William Tennent 85
Phil James, Wissahickon 85
Michael Morris, Hatboro-Horsham 85
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