Ben Reese recaps Tuesday’s SOL Golf Championship. Photos provided by Larry Small. CLICK HERE for a gallery of photos.
By Ben Reese
WARMINSTER -- It was a Yogi Berra day at the Suburban One League girls golf championship. You know, deja vu all over again.
Pennsbury's Jade Gu shot a 7-over 78 to become the medalist. Cristea Park of Wissahickon was close behind at 83.
But, really, that was all of the deja vu on the day because, last year, Gu shot a 73 and Park a 77 to finish 1-2 at Five Ponds Golf Club. In between those two this year was Central Bucks East's Sarah Scarpill with an 80.
Those three led the way for seven other SOL golfers in qualifying to move on to the District One Tournament to be held Monday, Oct. 8, at Gilbertsville Golf Course and Tuesday, Oct. 9 at Turtle Creek Golf Course.
What was the difference this year from last year?
"I putted worse (than last year)," Gu said. "Last year I would leave myself an OK distance away from the hole after the approach shot. This year, I did the same thing.
"(Last year) I would leave an OK distance for my second putt. This year, the second putt just wouldn't go in. I couldn't make a single 3-footer and that's basically what brought my score down."
But she also had a huge putting highlight, draining a long birdie putt on the par-3 17th hole.
"My tee shot, I was really lucky," she said, "because it hit the stone ledge (in front of the green) and bounced all the way to the back of the green. At that point, I was just like 'What's the worst I can do?' So I didn't think about it that much. Somehow it went in."
Park had putting woes of her own.
"The greens were a lot faster than when I practiced," she said. "I think that was my problem because everything else was pretty good. My putts weren't going in today.
"My iron shots, my second shots were pretty good. My chip shots were fine but my putting really brought me down."
Scarpill made the turn after nine holes with a two-shot lead on Gu, 37 to 39. But the Patriot could only manage a 43 on the back to another 39 for Gu.
"The front nine I was killing it with hitting the green in two" said Scarpill. "I had two birdie putts back-to-back which I made.
"On the back nine, I struggled a little bit with hitting the green. Overall, I think I did pretty good."
All three, and the seven other golfers, are anticipating the upcoming districts. But with different feelings.
For Gu, it is almost a sense of revenge.
"I choked pretty badly," she said of last year's districts. "Hopefully, I won't do as bad this year. Hopefully, I don't choke again."
For Park, it is with some sense of reality.
"I got nervous this morning," she said. "I could not stop thinking about it because in the end it's going to states. That's my goal.
"The other girls are getting better each year. To get to that goal is only getting harder. So I'm still nervous and I'm still the same way I was freshman year."
For Scarpill, it is with some sense of redemption.
"I did not (make districts last year) because I took a 14 on the fourth hole," she explained. "That's the only time that ever happened.
"I ended up shooting a 100 and missed the cut by one. But it's OK.
"I'm here now, battling back. I was disappointed last year but I'm very proud of myself this year."
The other girls qualifying for District One play were Ashley Ea of Pennridge (83), Quakertown's Madilyn Siuta (85), Lizzie Palmieri of CB South (87), North Penn's Josie Genuardi (89), Julie Cohen of Pennsbury (90), Souderton's Helen Shaw (91) and Caroline McFadden of Pennridge (95).
There were 19 slots available but the score had to be 99 or lower in order to claim one of those spots.
SPARTANS MOVING UP: Late Monday evening, Springfield was notified that it had qualified to be a 3A school for golf. The Spartans had been qualified as 2A prior to that time.
It created a bit of a stir because two Springfield male golfers had qualified for districts in 2A. However, they were within the top 35 qualifiers in Monday's SOL tournament and, with the addition of Springfield in 3A, the SOL was allotted two more spots for districts at 3A.
SUBURBAN ONE LEAGUE QUALIFERS
Jade Gu, Pennsbury 78
Sarah Scarpill, CB East 80
Cristea Park, Wissahickon 83
Ashley Ea, Pennridge 83
Madilyn Siuta, Quakertown 85
Lizzie Palmieri CB South 87
Josie Genuardi North Penn 89
Julie Cohen, Pennsbury 90
Helen Shaw, Souderton 91
Carolyn McFadden, Pennridge 95
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