Pennsbury senior Vinay Ramesh captured the PIAA state golf title. Ben Reese recaps all the action.
By Ben Reese
YORK — As the day began for Pennsbury's Vinay Ramesh at the PIAA Golf Championship at Heritage Hills Golf Resort, things weren't going his way.
He had shot a 4-over 75 on Monday, the first day of the tournament, and knew he had to come back with a good number if he was going to have any possibility of winning the state title. And he did, shooting a second-round 70 to finish in a tie with Manheim Township's Ryan Dornes at 145.
The pair then went out to the 18th tee and started a playoff. They both parred 18 and No. 1, the first and second holes. Things went a little wacky on the third playoff hole, No. 2.
Dornes hit his first drive out of bounds and then played another tee ball, which ended up in the fairway. Ramesh hit his drive way right, landing in the 11th fairway, which ran alongside the third.
Ramesh hit his second shot over the green and onto a mound right next to the green. Dornes hit his fourth shot onto the green but still more than 20 feet away.
After Ramesh had chipped back onto the green about 20 feet past the pin, Dornes hit his putt, which ended up short. That left Ramesh with two putts to win the title and he used both of them, tapping it in from about one foot for the win.
"In the beginning of the round, on 3 and 4, I had to take unplayables because I was in the fescue," Ramesh said, explaining his bad start. " I really had to hang in there and it really paid off."
So how did you get back in contention?
"I had a nice stretch on the back nine," he said. "I birdied 10 and 11 and then I birdied 13 and 14. I had a little run going there."
And that little birdie barrage got him into the playoff. That and his following his "process."
Ramesh's process was a bit of mental work, which got him back on his game.
"I was thinking to just keep doing my process," he said about his bad start. "It's served me well.
"I did the same thing yesterday, but the score didn't really show how well I played. But today the score was definitely there.
"I just tried to do the same thing in the playoff and it worked out."
What happened on the third hole?
"I was OK," he said when asked about his tee shot onto the 11th fairway. "I just didn't want to go left (which is what Dornes did and which was out of bounds).
"I played in the practice round and I remembered that the 11th hole had an open shot to the green (on No. 2). I figured I was OK. I was just hoping that I was in the fairway and not in the trees (lining the far side of the 11th fairway)."
Ramesh had sympathy for Dornes, though.
"I feel for Ryan," he said. "That's not the way you would want to win, but I'll take it."
Pennsbury's other entry in the state tournament, Jackie Rogowicz, didn't fare as well. She finished in a tie for fifth place. She had finished second in the past three PIAA Championships.
Madelein Herr of Council Rock North finished tied for seventh for the girls and Springfield's Chris Binet was tied for ninth in AA boys.
The other finishers for the Suburban One League were Logan Fuglestad of Council Rock North in 13th, Upper Dublin's Jack Melville in 14th, Michael Reed-Price of Upper Dublin tied for 25th and Council Rock South's Lukas Clark tied for 29th.
For Rogowicz, it was a tough day. After her three straight seconds, expectations were high, but it just wasn't to be.
"I played really bad," she said of her second-day 79, which gave her a 153 for the tourney. "It was one of my worst rounds of the year.
"I did OK yesterday (Monday) but I just started off bad. I putted so bad.
"I parred the first hole then I went bogey, bogey and then par, so I was 2-over through four which I wasn't really happy about. I 4-putted the fifth hole, which was a double (bogey) so I was 4-over.
"I actually got it back to 2-over. But then I played so bad on the back nine. It got worse."
This was the last chance for Rogowicz in the state tournament. She will graduate in June 2015 and take her golf talent to Penn State.
"It feels kind of weird," she said. "I guess I won't be coming back next year.
"I wanted to play better because it's my last (year), but every time I play I want to shoot a good score. It's tough when you don't."
The girls’ title again went to a District One entry. Brynn Walker of Radnor beat Lauren Waller of Canon-McMillan in a one-hole playoff. Both girls finished the two rounds at 146.
The experience of playing in the PIAA Championship was enough for several of the SOL golfers. It should bode well for next year, but it should also help one of the golfers who will be playing today in the team competition.
Upper Dublin's Reed-Price had difficulties in his first experience at states. But he is certain the experience will help in the team tourney.
"I think we'll (he and teammate Melville) know where not to hit it because I've been in all those places," he said. "I think I can help the other guys, too.
"I hope tomorrow (Wednesday) we can all just bring out our 'A' game and hopefully bring back a state title to Upper Dublin. That would be awesome."
CR South's Clark, only a sophomore, enjoyed his stay at the states. And he is looking forward to next year.
"It was definitely fun," he said, "a great experience. Hopefully I'll get to experience it again next year.
"It's definitely a course that you need to know. The people at the top were the people that played here last year and the year before that."
But now Clark and all the other non-seniors have that knowledge, which should bring more excitement to next year's state tournament.
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