Ben Reese recaps the SOL highlights at the District One Golf Tournament. Complete lists of all the competitors in the girls' and boys' tournaments are posted on the site.
By Ben Reese
ROYERSFORD – Jackie Rogowicz was playing the round that she wanted to play. The Pennsbury sophomore was 4-under par after the first eight holes of the District One Golf Championship at Turtle Creek Golf Course.
Then disaster struck.
On the 18th hole, which was her ninth of the day, Rogowicz quadruple-bogeyed the hole and fell back to even par for the round. She went on to shoot an even-par 72 for a two-day total of 138.
But that score was one more than the new district champion Isabella Dilisio of Mt. St. Joseph, who shot a 71. Both girls had shot 66 on the first day at Gilbertsville Golf Course.
“I played really well the whole round,” Rogowicz said. “I made a nine on No. 18 and that's what just killed me.
“I was trying not to let it bother me but … I finished pretty well.”
On 18, a 530-yard, par-5 for the girls, Rogowicz drove to within 225 yards of the green. That forced her into a decision.
“I was debating whether or not to go for it because it was downhill, downwind,” she said. “So then I decided to lay up and I laid up on the down slope.”
There was a reason for that, right, Jackie.
“I didn't know (about the down slope) because I played a practice round (at Turtle Creek) and I skipped the 18th hole. I normally play them all but it was getting dark and I wanted to go home.”
Which speaks volumes for playing all 18 in practice rounds.
“I laid up on the down slope and I had a really awkward lie,” Rogowicz continued. “It was just hard and I hit it in the water. And then I dropped it and hit it in again.”
She two-putted for her nine. However, she righted her ship and played the back nine in even par.
Right behind Dilisio and Rogowicz was Council Rock North's Erica Herr. She turned in the best round of the day, boys and girls, with a 2-under 70.
“I was sticking my irons close which gave me more birdie opportunities,” Herr said. “I didn't have as many bogeys today so overall my game came together today.”
Dilisio, Rogowicz and Herr were in the final girls group of the day, giving that last threesome a lot of talent – and a lot of fun.
“Isabella is my best friend,” Rogowicz said. “We've known each other for a while, since we've been playing in tournaments, since we were little. It was fun.”
Herr liked the competition that the grouping created.
“They were playing so great today,” Herr said of Dilisio and Rogowicz. “They were making putts from everywhere.
“Them playing good really made me want to play better. Playing with them certainly helped the way I played today.
“There's always that little competition. You always want to be doing better and better. Playing with them and keeping up with them was really helpful.”
The only other girl from the Suburban One League to advance to the Eastern Regional competition next week was Erica Herr's sister Madeline. Madeline finished fourth with a two-day total of 153.
The boys side of the ledger didn't have the high drama that the girls had. But it did have its moments.
A freshman, Steve Cerbara of Holy Ghost Prep, took the boys crown, shooting another 71 to finish at 2-under 142.
That was enough to put Central Bucks East's Stewart Rickenbach in second place after a 72 gave him a 144 total.
“It was an up and down day,” Rickenbach said. “I had three birdies and three bogeys on the front nine and on the back nine I think I had one bogey and one birdie.
“My putting was really good today. I made a lot of long putts. I drained a 60-footer on the last hole.”
Council Rock North's Zach Herr and Andrew Carber of Upper Dublin tied for fourth spot at 145. Sean Ebert of CB West, Hatboro-Horsham's Tom Fisher and James Twomey of Council Rock North were tied for 11th at 151 and Wissahickon's Jalen Griffin squeezed into the final 16 at 152.
The biggest surprise of the tournament was the play of Ebert. The Buck senior shot a 73 on Tuesday with seven birdies and followed that up with a 78 to make the cut.
Ebert outplayed the rest of his team, getting into the regional tournament for the first time. He was the only West player to advance into the second round of the District One tourney.
Zach Herr was disappointed in his round. His putting hurt him most of all.
“It was a bad 73,” Herr said. “I'm playing so good right now that it's just frustrating.
“I was hitting balls to within three feet for birdie and I was lipping them out. I hit 14 greens today, probably 75 percent of the fairways and probably had 35 putts.”
Fisher and Griffin were probably two of the happiest golfers around after the cut line was established.
Fisher was lamenting a missed putt on the 18th green, which he thought would keep him out of regionals. But he was all smiles after finding out that he had made the cut.
“I'm pretty excited,” he said. “It feels like 6,000 pounds lifted off my shoulders.
“It should be cool (going to regionals). I'm excited for it.”
Griffin was convinced he hadn't made the cut. In fact, he was kicking himself, mentally, for his play on the final five holes.
But his tune changed once he found out he was in just the right spot. His 152 tied him for the final spot with first round leader Paul Yun of Radnor, who shot an 82 to go with his 70.
“I'm just lucky,” Griffin said. “It always turns out to be one of the greatest feelings of the year.
“I cut it way too close. I've got to change something next year. I don't want to do this to myself again.”
Griffin also admitted that he was another one who didn't play a complete practice round. He played two practice rounds and didn't play the final five holes either time.
Those holes cost him eight strokes over the two days. He was 4 over for the final five holes on Tuesday and 4 over again Wednesday.
The District One AAA boys title was also decided Wednesday. Council Rock North took first with a 300 score and will go to the regional competition with Holy Ghost Prep second at 308.
For the Indians, Erica Herr shot 70, Zach Herr shot 73, James Twomey shot 76 and Madeline Herr shot 81.
The boys AA team title went to New Hope Solebury with a 331 total. New Hope's Mike Massimino and Calvary Christian's Mark Farley qualified for regionals.
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