Ben Reese recaps all the SOL action at Tuesday’s District One AAA Tournament.
By Ben Reese
LIMERICK -- The final day of the District One golf tournament was a day for reclaiming past triumphs and gaining new ones.
Of the 38 boys and 12 girls who qualified for the AAA portion of the tourney and the two boys and one girl in the AA, several players got the opportunity to redeem themselves from past tries at the state level. And a few advanced to a level they had never before reached.
Another shot at the state championship was earned by two golfers who had been there before but without grabbing the brass ring. They are Souderton's Stephen Butler and Plymouth Whitemarsh’s Dylan Gooneratne, who had to win a playoff to get there.
Also advancing to the state tournament are CB West's Milo Jezzeny and Wissahickon's Christian Matt and Jackson Tappen. Jade Gu of Pennsbury is the lone SOL girl to make states.
In case you are wondering, there will be no Eastern Regional tournament this year due to the COVID-19 outbreak. This allows the district qualifiers to move on directly to states, which will be held at Heritage Hills Golf Resort in York on Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 19 and 20.
The difference this year, once again due to the pandemic, is that the AA state tournament will be on Monday in an 18-hole format and the AAA will be Tuesday, also in an 18-hole format. The team tournaments will both be on Monday.
And, since we're mentioning AA, of which the Suburban One League has one boys school and one girl, Mollie Young of Springfield won the AA girls title and Nate Wiseman of New Hole Solebury took the boys crown. More from them later.
Butler and Gooneratne both have had flings at states. Butler reached that plateau in his sophomore season two years ago and Gooneratne got there last year.
Neither won. But both are excited to return.
"I'm really happy to get that done," Gooneratne said, referring to his return to states. "I've been working toward that all fall.
"I'm so happy; I really am. Coming down the stretch toward the end of the round I putted kind of bad but that I could get into that playoff and finish it off was awesome."
After the end of the round, he had tied with three other golfers for the final slot of the 12 boys advancing to states. The four played the first hole on which two of the players were eliminated.
The two remaining golfers went to the eighth hole, which they both parred. Then they advanced to the par-3 ninth.
"I hit a little knock-down five (iron)," Gooneratne said. "Immediately, right off the club face, I knew it was good.
"I'm really happy that it was close (to the hole). I was able to finish it off with a birdie which was awesome."
Butler went through some worrisome times of his own. For a while, it appeared that he wouldn't get a chance to return to states.
"I missed a two-and-a-half foot birdie putt on nine and missed another short putt," he said before it was confirmed that he was moving on. "I knew it was going to be difficult this year because they are only taking 12.
"After struggles last year at this tournament, I'm finally able to get back there and make it a two-time thing instead of just one. It's especially meaningful because it's my senior year. It's my last chance and I'm going back."
Those two are the final two qualifiers for states. The top qualifier from the SOL is Jezzeny, finishing fourth at 145, one over par.
And he is elated.
"Pretty excited," he said. "I had a few rough holes but I got it done and that's all that matters."
As for his finish . . .
"I don't really care about that," Jezzeny said. "Everyone else played really well so they deserve everything.
"I just kind of held it together. I wasn't feeling great, not comfortable, but I hit some good shots and saved a few pars."
Both Matt and Tappen reached regionals last year. But neither could make it to states.
They did this year. Matt finished in a tie for fifth at 147 (+3) and Tappen tied for eighth at 148 (+5).
The other SOL players at districts were Noah Sim of Hatboro-Horsham (tied for 12th at 151), Charlie Kerprich of Upper Dublin (T16, 152), Council Rock North's Nick Taylor (T18, 153), Brendan Bauer of Pennridge (T16, 153), CB West's Kevin Lydon (T18, 153), Ryan Rearden of Pennsbury (T22, 154), Quinn Marett of North Penn (T25, 155), Dom DellaPenna of North Penn (T25, 155), Pennridge's Blake Stewart (T28, 157), Pennsbury's Christopher Myers (30, 159) and Andrew Saglimbeni of Quakertown (32, 166).
For the AAA girls, only Gu advanced. She played at states last year.
This year, she finished tied for second at districts, shooting a 5-over 148. Ava O'Sullivan of Downingtown East won with a 146 score.
"It feels good (to make states)," Gu said, flashing a thumbs-up.
But she wasn't pleased with her round.
"I got too aggressive on the back nine because I was trying to play well for the team (which was in the team competition). On 13, I snap-hooked my drive because I was trying to hit my driver really hard to hit the green in two. I probably just should have relaxed and tried to hit it in three."
The other SOL AAA finishers are Abigail Lynn of CB West (7th, 155), Emma Reilly of CB South (9, 158), Ashley Ea of Pennridge (11, 162), North Penn's Hayley Eckert (T13, 168), Audrey Reese of Council Rock South (T13, 168), Pennsbury's Arielle Schultz (T16, 171) and Taryn Shine of Pennridge (T16, 171).
Schools in the AA competition are few and far between in District One. In fact, there were only two competitors for both the boys and girls.
Wiseman beat his New Hope Solebury teammate Evan Menz to take the AA boys title. Young topped Jenkintown's Katie McGrath for the AA girls championship.
Both will be going to states for the first time,
"That's really great," said Young, a sophomore, when informed that she had won the district title. "I didn't have my best round but toward the end I started playing better. I'm happy with that.
"I feel that with a little bit of practice I can do fine at states. I'm happy to have the experience this year so that in future years I'll know what to do and play better."
Young also punctuated her round with her best shot. She chipped into the hole from 70 yards away on No. 17.
Wiseman, also a sophomore, appreciates what he has earned.
"It feels good," he said. "I didn't get very far last year but there wasn't as much competition. But it's good to make it this year."
In the team competitions, CB West finished in second place behind Uniontown in AAA while New Hope-Solebury won the AA event. Only one team from each division advances to the state competition.
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