To view photos of all the SOL golfers in action, visit the photo gallery at the following link: http://photos.suburbanonesports.com/
A list of the 40 golfers who qualified for districts as well as the three individual conference results have been posted on the Golf Home Page of the web site.
FRANCONIA TWP – The goal of the 91 golfers who converged at Indian Valley Country Club on Monday morning was quite simple.Qualify for next week’s district tournament.
It didn’t matter that conditions were less than ideal, and it was hardly a concern that scores would be considerably higher than expected for the standout golfers.
“You want to qualify,” Council Rock North coach Rich White said. “Most of the kids I have had in the past that have gone on to states didn’t care where they finished so long as they move on, move on and move on.
“That was really the focus for all the kids. If their goal is to get to the state tournament, they have to do it one at a time and just make sure their scores are good enough to go on.”
Brandon Dalinka’s goals extend well beyond advancing to the state tournament, and after capturing the SOL Tournament title by shooting an even par 72 on a cold and dreary day, the Council Rock North senior talked about those goals.
“My goal this year is as a team I want to go to states and experience it as a team,” Dalinka said. “My individual goal is to try and sweep – I want to win the Suburbans, which I just did, then try and win districts, regionals and states.
“That would be a good accomplishment.”
A clean sweep is not out of the question for Dalinka, who last year won districts and finished tied for third in the state tournament. With Monday’s win over a tough field, he is off to a good start, although he acknowledged it was not an especially easy day on the links.
“It wasn’t very fun,” Dalinka said. “It was real cold and rainy, and to make it worse, I’m getting over a cold.
“It was pretty miserable – it felt like December.”
Throw in all those factors, and it makes Dalinka’s showing even more impressive.
“To shoot even par on a day as cold as it was with these conditions – you have to keep it together, no question,” White said. “He is so good tee to green that he has now added his short game skills to make him a threat to be at par every time he plays.
“He is calm, he is even-tempered, and he doesn’t let a bad hole affect his next three. He’s experienced too, and that experience goes a long way.”
Rock North sophomore Zach Herr finished two strokes behind his teammate in second place with a 74. Hatboro-Horsham senior Greg Goodreds captured third and won the Continental Conference individual title by shooting a four-over-par 76, and his strong showing helped the Hatters earn the coveted wild card spot in districts. Hatboro finished with a score of 325, eking out Abington by one shot.
Abington senior Ben Cooley and Central Bucks East sophomore Stewart Rickenbach finished in a tie for fourth. Both shot a 77. Abington’s Rich Thorpe and William Tennent’s Logan Cloak both shot a 78 while Plymouth Whitemarh’s Zach Pogust and Neshaminy’s Dylan Amin followed at 80. Pogust was crowned the American Conference individual champion.
Seven players – CB East junior Anthony Jagelka, Rock South senior Alex Ramirez, Upper Merion senior Eric Slawter, Wissahickon sophomore Rishab Kumar, Rock North senior Austin Birkey, Upper Dublin senior Scott Dunnam and North Penn’s Luke Heller – shot an 86 and battled it out for the four final spots in next week’s district tournament.
Earning the final spots in districts were Ramirez, Jagelka, Slawter and Kumar.
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