Ben Reese recaps Monday’s SOL action in the District 1 Tournament. CLICK HERE to view the SOS posted GOLF galleries.
LIMERICK — Before we get into discussing golf, we really need to talk about the elephant on the golf course.
In this case, it was the wind. According to the weather predictors, the speed of the wind gusts was approximately 30-35 miles per hour.
That certainly is saying a lot. It says even more on a golf course, where the wind can push a golf ball left or right or knock it down at will.
It can also benefit golfers if they are hitting the ball in the same direction as the wind is blowing. It also helps if the golf course has a lot of trees to block the wind.
That isn’t the case at Turtle Creek Golf Course. There are some trees but none that block the wind, especially wind blowing 35 mile per hour.
“The wind was brutal,” said Ian Yoo of Wissahickon. “I was hitting drivers like 210 yards.
“Irons, I was clubbing up at least three on some holes. I would say it was a 3-club wind.”
Just a bit of explanation. When Yoo said he was clubbing up (or potentially down), he meant that instead of say hitting a 7-iron, because of the wind he would hit a 4-iron.
“I handled it by playing the shot I know I can,” Yoo explained. “I took the divots I always knew I could, played the shot how I wanted and just went out and played golf.”
He played it as well as anyone, shooting a 7-over par 79, good enough to finish the first day of the two-day District One Golf Tournament in a tie for ninth. He was tied with Hatboro-Horsham’s Brent Glah and Chase Gillie of Council Rock North. Will Johnson Of Conestoga led the way with an even par 71.
Glah and Gillie both had similar reactions to the wind.
“It was hard,” Glah said. “I wasn’t judging (the wind) right all day but just had to try to get the ball on the green as quick as possible.
“I’ve never seen anything like that wind. I’ve played a lot of golf in my life, but I’ve never seen anything like it out there.”
Gillie was in agreement with Glah.
“The wind was very tough,” he said. “It was whipping left and right.”
OK, so what did you do the combat the wind?
“Hitting it low,” said Glah.
Did it work?
“No,” he added with a chuckle.
How about you, Chase?
“I just tried to hit it low,” he said. “And it did work. I played it right.”
Souderton’s Cole Henning finished tied for 20th with Carter Gabbett of Pennsbury. They both shot 9-over 81s.
What about the wind, Cole?
“Tough conditions so I’m happy to shoot the number I did,” he said. “It was a lot of just clubbing up and swinging easy, unless it was downwind then I would club down.”
All four of these golfers were pleased to be advancing to the second round of the tournament, which will begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15, with both the boys and girls playing at Turtle Creek.
“I worked really hard over the summer trying to get good,” said Yoo. “I missed the cut at districts last year, so I’m really trying to get better, make the cut this year, have a run at states.”
Gillie was the most optimistic of the group.
“It feels good, really good,” he said. “I think I can do well tomorrow.
“It’s not going to be as windy. I do hit the ball high so tomorrow with less wind I think I should do well.”
Of course, Yoo could be in the same optimistic category.
“I think I’ve got it (a victory) in me,” he said. “I don’t think the wind will be as bad, but since it’s cold, I think the distances will stay the same. I’m going to try and play the same golf I played today.”
In addition to the golfers already mentioned, two other boys advanced to the second round. They are Ryan Brnich of Springfield with an 8-over 80 and Central Bucks West’s Ryan Quinn with a 9-over 81.
Two New Hope Solebury golfers also advanced in the AA division. Max Wright is second after a 19-over 91 and Charlie Plebani is fourth at 35-over 107.
The girls played their first round at Raven’s Claw Golf Club in Pottstown. And also faced the wind.
Leading the way for the Suburban One League girls was defending PIAA champion Rhianna Gooneratne of Plymouth Whitemarsh, who is in second place with a 5-over 76. Right behind her in third is Naaz Mehta of CR North at 6-over 77.
Alli Engart of Souderton turned in a 10-over 81, good enough for eighth. Cheltenham’s Andi Jones is tied for 10th at 12-over 83 and Sophia Branca of CB South is in 13th at 14-over 85.
The girls’ leader is Phoenixville’s Kayley Roberts with a 4-over 75.
All of these scores carry over to the second round. A total of 17 AAA boys and nine AAA girls will advance to the PIAA Championship at the Penn State University Blue and White courses on Oct. 21-23.
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