The Liberty golf team won Monday’s East Penn Conference Golf at Olde Homestead Golf Course, beating second-place Emmaus by 10 strokes behind Matthew Vital’s runner-up finish and three Hurricane players in the top four places

After an undefeated regular season, the Hurricanes did what they have done all season to win Monday’s title.

“We’ve been looking forward to playing Emmaus again, not just Emmaus but Nazareth and Central too,” said Vital. “Those were close matches in the regular season. We knew we had to come out and prove ourselves today. A few of us played well enough to make sure that we beat them.”

The Hurricanes had three players in the 70s with Vital’s even-par 72, followed by Matt Ronca in third place overall with a 77 and Jase Barker (79) taking fourth place overall. Only four golfers broke 80 in the event, played on a windy day in New Tripoli. Three of those players were Hurricanes.

Michael Vital rounded out Liberty’s five-man team score of 311 with an 83, which was good for seventh place overall. Jimmy Barker shot 84 in the event and placed ninth.

Emmaus had one player in the 70s in Matt Zerfass, who also shot 72 and beat Matthew Vital on the first playoff hole. The Hornets finished at 321, followed by Central Catholic (339) and Nazareth (345).

Matthew Vital and Zerfass were part of the first group out in the event and had a back-and-forth match going throughout the day.

A birdie on the first hole put the Hurricane ahead when Zerfass made three-straight bogeys on holes 3-5, Vital was in command. A triple bogey on number 6 closed the game and eventually Zerfass got the lead.

Vital birdied the 16th to get one stroke back, and both players birdied the 17th and parred the 18th.

“We had a battle going on,” said Matthew Vital. “On 17 he made a huge putt, really good putt, like 50 feet over a hill for birdie. Then I topped it with a birdie. On 18 we both made good pars. All day it was a battle going on.”

The playoff went to Olde Homestead’s par-five first hole. Zerfass parred and Vital made bogey.

“I played well,” he said. “I just had a few holes where I hit out of bounds or hit into a hazard and took a big number. Besides that I had seven birdies. I played pretty well. I can’t be mad.”

Vital made two bogeys, one double and one triple in his round, offset by the seven birdies.

Freedom’s Jacob Grillo was the next-best Bethlehem finisher Monday, taking 18th place with an 86. Patriot teammate Krish Patel also competed in the tournament, shooting a 105. Bethlehem Catholic’s Case Kelly represented the Golden Hawks Monday, carding a 110 at the event.