Upper Dublin's Andrew Carber hit a hole in one to highlight first day of District One competition. Ben Reese recaps some of the highlights.
By Ben Reese
ROYERSFORD – Andrew Carber has had many exciting moments in his athletic career at Upper Dublin High School.
But none of them matched his biggest moment Tuesday at Turtle Creek Golf Course during the opening round of the District One Golf Championship. With one swing of his seven iron, Carber recorded the feat that every golfer longs for.
He shot a hole in one.
“It felt great,” he said. “I hit it pure. It was pin-seeking the whole way.
“It lands five feet by and the next thing I know the guys are giving me high-fives on the tee. I see it drop. It was a special moment.”
The ace is the first of Carber's career. And it couldn't have come at a more opportune moment. The two strokes below par put him even for the day. He finished the round at 1-over 73.
Perhaps the toughest part of the day for Carber came on his next shot. Holding down the rush from the first hole in one can be difficult.
“It was tough to get off my mind,” Carber said. “I wound up striping a six iron down the fairway and putting a wedge to about 10 feet and making a par.”
The round itself was some retribution for the very tall Cardinal senior. He had shot a 10-over 82 in the Suburban One League championships.
“I shot 73, which was pretty solid,” he said, “not a terrific round but it was solid. I can't ask for more, honestly.
“I put myself into position to win this tournament for tomorrow. I'm excited.”
More than just the ace making for that excitement.
Weather or not:The weather at Turtle Creek for the boys and Gilbertsville for the girls was more like the weather for basketball, something that can be played inside out of the weather.
It was chilly, never getting above the mid-50s, and misty. Neither of them make for weather conducive to playing golf.
But it seems the players weren't bothered by the conditions.
“The weather was fine,” said Central Bucks East's SOL champion Stewart Rickenbach. “I don't mind playing in cold weather.
“It started to mist around 14. It was a little annoying but other than that it was fine.”
The Herr family of Council Rock North had the same opinion.
“It wasn't that big a factor,” said Erica. “It wasn't that bad today, just a little drizzle here and there. It was a little cold but not too bad.”
Zach was bothered some by the cold.
“It was cold in the beginning and that affected me but then it got warmer in the middle and the mist at the end was a little annoying,” he said.
The youngest Herr, Madeline, concurred.
“The ground was a little wet but that was probably the worst thing,” she said.
According the Wissahickon's Jalen Griffin, the weather was a little bothersome.
“Maybe slightly,” he said when asked about the weather. “It wasn't a huge factor.”
Wednesday's weather forecast is for partly cloudy skies and a high of 67.
Qualifiers:In all, 31 male golfers qualified for the Class AAA District One championship and four qualified in Class AA. Sixteen female golfers qualified for the second day at Gilbertsville Golf Course.
The girls had the best scores of the day. Jackie Rogowicz of Pennsbury and Mt. St. Joseph's Isabella Dilissio each torched the Gilbertsville course for 5-under 66s.
The Herr sisters both recorded 1-over 72s. Ashley Cassidy of CB East shot a 79, and William Tennent's Kristina Farrer got in with an 81.
Topping the boys was Paul Yun of Radnor, who shot a 2-under 70. Rickenbach and Zach Herr led the Suburban One League boys, finishing tied for fourth on the first day with 72s.
Central Bucks West's Sean Ebert had what could be classified as the strangest round. He shot a 73 but had seven birdies on the day. Evan Beaty of Plymouth Whitemarsh and Carber both also had 73s.
Pennsbury's Ryan Foll came in with a 74; Neshaminy's John Buliga and Council Rock North's James Twomey both shot 75; Griffin and Kyle Henofer of Pennridge fired 76s; and Hatboro-Horsham's Tom Fisher, Hank Kaufmann of Pennsbury and PW's Carter Field all hit for 77s, which was the cut line.
In boys Class AA, New Hope took three of the four spots with Andrew Bove leading the way with a 76. Calvary Christian's Mark Farley notched the other position with a 78.
In the team competition, which will conclude Wednesday for Class AAA boys, New Hope won the boys AA title, Radnor took the girls AAA crown and Villa Maria got the girls AA championship.
One more for the books:On the 18th hole. Lamar Saxon of Boyertown lined up his second shot from the fairway. He connected with a sweet shot which hit the green, bounced twice and then landed at the bottom of the cup for an eagle 2.
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