This week’s golf notebook highlights Clay Anders winning the Montgomery County Junior Amateur Championship this summer.
By Ben Reese
Clay Anders got more than just a trophy when he won the Montgomery County Junior Amateur Championship at Plymouth Country Club this summer.
The Souderton senior also got a big shot of confidence. Not that he was lacking in confidence, but his confidence might have taken a hit earlier in the summer.
“I think it gave him a big confidence boost,” Souderton golf coach Fred Cicacci said. “Some of the guys – Alejandro Velez, Lenny Welch, Quinn Guzman – were playing some tournaments and were doing pretty well.
“His brother, Dawson, a freshman, came in second to Alejandro Velez in the Indian Valley Junior Club Championship, and Clay didn't do too well there. Seeing him do what he did (at the Montgomery County Junior Amateur), I'm confident that it made him feel better, and it was a good confidence boost for him.”
Anders agrees.
“I think it definitely has (given me a boost in confidence),” the Souderton senior said. “I'm more confident and confidence is good in golf.”
A lot of that confidence came to the fore on the 18th hole of the Montco tourney. Anders hit his drive on the final hole left into the trees, but he recovered and beat the 2012 second-place finisher Brian Fischer by a stroke.
“I have a lot of practice hitting from under trees, Anders said with a laugh. “I wasn't too worried about that shot. I just put it in the fairway.”
Cicacci has never had any doubts about Anders. The coach has had confidence in his swing all along.
“He has a pure swing, just a nice, easy tempo,” Cicacci said. “It's just a beautiful swing.
“He's done real well for us this year. This is our ninth match and he's been no more than four over in those matches except one. He's just a very solid competitor.”
Anders knows which one Cicacci is referring to. It was an 18-hole match between eight Suburban One League schools at Lookaway Golf Club.
His opening nine wasn't too bad, finishing the front in 44. But he floundered on the back, shooting a 51.
“I was playing pretty well until the Lookaway match, the 18 holes,” Anders said. “It was probably my only bad match. My worst score has been around 41.”
Anders is planning on following his brother Rodney, who also played for the Indians, on to play golf in college. Rodney is currently playing at Millersville.
“I plan on playing college golf somewhere,” Anders said. “I'm not sure where, D-II or D-III.
“I plan on playing anywhere I go. I've looked at Eastern; I visited Campbell in North Carolina; and visited Coastal (Carolina in Myrtle Beach, S.C.).”
Cicacci is certain that Anders can compete on the next level.
“He'll play in college,” the coach said. “I don't think he'll go Division I but he'll definitely play in college.”
With the confidence garnered from his big win over the summer, Anders already has a leg up on that.
Rebounding: Pennridge and Neshaminy have both turned a corner this season. Both the Rams and the Redskins have improved a lot from last season.
The fortunes of Pennridge have risen the most. The Rams finished the 2012 season with a 1-12 Suburban One League record and 2-12 overall.
At this point in the season, they have won eight league matches and lost only three and overall have an 11-6 record. And the Rams lost Kyle Henofer, a SOL Championship and District One qualifier, and A.J. Molettiere, who also qualified for the SOL championship.
Neshaminy's rise has been a little less dramatic, but it is still a step in the right direction. The 'Skins finished 2012 with a 3-11 SOL mark and 3-13 overall.
However, this season, things are going in the upward direction. Neshaminy has already exceeded last year's win total, standing at 4-4 in the league and 4-6 overall.
Round and Round: In the same Lookaway Golf Club group of matches that Clay Anders and his Souderton coach Fred Cicacci referenced, four golfers shot close to par over the par-72 layout. Hatboro-Horsham No. 1 Tom Fisher was the medalist at 73, followed by Central Bucks East No. 1 Kyle Kost at 75, Pennridge No. 4 Shane McIntyre at 78 and CB West No. 1 Tyler Sokolis, who also shot a 78. They were the only ones to break 80.
Another member of the Herr family is starting to make a name for herself. That would be Madelein, who is now a sophomore at Council Rock North. She shot a 2-over 37 against William Tennent at Five Ponds.
Aces: Central Bucks South sophomore Connor Moffatt made the shot of his young high school golfing career, making a hole in one from 176 yards in a match against CB West on Aug. 29. Congratulations.
Reminder: Once again, coaches be sure to report any record rounds, holes in one, eagles, etc., to the suburbanonesports.com website for inclusion in the next notebook, which will be posted the week of Sept. 23. Thank you.
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