PW junior Rhianna Gooneratne captured the title at the PIAA 3A Golf Championship on Tuesday. (Photos provided)
Rhianna Gooneratne had the kind of round golfers dream about.
The Plymouth Whitemarsh junior shot a 5-under par 67 on day one of the PIAA 3A State Championship Monday at Penn State University’s Blue Course.
“I had some really great birdies,” Gooneratne said. “On the back nine, I birdied the first five holes. I was just on a roll. It felt good to be making all the putts. It gave me a
really good lead for today, which I’m really happy about.”
Gooneratne took a five-stroke lead into Tuesday’s second round when she put the finishing touches on a magical run to a state title, shooting a 1-over 73 and finishing five strokes ahead of Phoenixville’s Kate Roberts.
“It’s just so great an accomplishment,” Gooneratne said. “I’ve been here the last two years and been disappointed with the finish. I’ve been building up all year to this. I’ve really improved from the beginning of the year. I’m just happy to see all the hard work paid off.”
Hard work, according to PW coach Jeff Kavanaugh, is nothing new to the PW junior.
“She’s so good because of the time and effort she’s put into it,” he said. “The first time I saw her play golf was in seventh grade and just the amount of time and effort she puts into preparation, practice really led her up to this moment.
“She had an incredible round yesterday, and I was even more proud of her round today – in that big of a stage and that big of a moment, the round she played today was fantastic.”
Making Gooneratne’s second round so impressive – according to Kavanaugh - was her response to a triple bogey on the 14th hole.
“She played great,” the PW coach said. “She was 2-under going into the 14th hole and had a bad hole. She knew she
was in the lead by six shots at that moment and ended up triple bogeying. That’s what I think I’m most proud of – in that big of a moment, she was able to keep her composure, finish, shake it off, and she finished with four straight pars right after that.”
“I had a pretty comfortable lead going into that hole,” Gooneratne said. “It was just an unfortunate series of shots, and that gave me only a three-shot lead instead of a six. I still had the lead. I just had to calm myself down. I kind of got a little frazzled there, but I tried to calm down. I knew if I could go even the last four holes I should be in good shape.”
Gooneratne is no stranger to the state tournament, finishing in a tie for 14th as a freshman and tied for 11th as a sophomore. This year she was in it to win it.
“I knew I wanted to get out early and just try to go low and see how big of a lead I could get after the first day,” she said. “Today it was kind of same mentality but also staying a little more conservative trying to keep the lead, not trying to go too aggressive for pins but still just putting pressure on myself to play my best.
“I definitely knew that this year I had a shot. I was playing really well postseason this year. I just knew I would be happy whatever the outcome was if I just played how I knew I could play and just whatever
happened happened. Just try and play the best golf, and I’m just glad I won it.”
Making the win even more special was the presence of her brother Dylan and sister Fiona, who attend Penn State.
“It definitely was emotional,” Gooneratne said. “Both my siblings came and watched me play today. It’s a pretty big deal to win in front of my family, my coach and all the other players that I know and I’m friends with. It was just a great experience.”
Gooneratne's state title was also a big accomplishment for PW’s program.
“It’s fantastic,” Kavanaugh said. “It’s everyone’s wildest dream to have a state champion on a golf team. It’s never happened for a female at Plymouth Whitemarsh. Everyone in the community wrote texts, phone calls. It’s just been fantastic, everyone is so proud of her.”
Upper Dublin’s Talia Hoffner also turned in a strong showing, finishing tied for seventh place with a two-day total of 7-over 151 after shooting a 78 on Monday and a 73 Tuesday. Souderton’s Alli Engart shot a 12-over 156 and was tied for 16th.
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