Golfers prep for D-11 meet
Last week, the Northampton golf team took third place in the EPC tournament.
While it was where the team finished in the regular season, head coach Brian Davies did have high expectations.
“The team finished third place. This is where we finished the season in the EPC, so I would say we met, but did not exceed, expectations,” Davies said.
While that may be the case, the team did qualify for team districts, which is a big deal.
“It is very hard to qualify for team districts, as only four total teams get a bid,” Davies added. “The last time Northampton went to team districts was in 2018 when we finished second to Emmaus. We will be competing against Liberty, Nazareth, and North Schuylkill.”
Liberty took first in the EPC tournament and would be the favorites to also take districts. They are also considered a state contender as well.
Northampton’s Madison Salter won the girls tournament with an 87.
She accomplished the feat in an exciting playoff hole, while also battling the conditions.
“She had to endure rain, high winds, and a lightning delay of 40 minutes,” Davies said.
Davies said Camryn Hoff from Nazareth was tied with Salter after 18 holes. Hoff would miss a 10-foot putt for par which put the contest in Salter’s hands.
“Madison lined up her 8-foot, uphill putt that broke from right to left and confidently rolled the golf ball into the center of the cup,” Davies said.
Gavin Pychinka was the best boy finisher in 11th place with an 82 and also earned a top-12 performance.
Trent Moyer shot 83, Justin Edwards 84 - and were just outside the top-12 medalists.
Michael Seidick 88 and Jayden Bleiler 89.
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On Monday was the District 11 qualifier at Old Homestead.
Seidick and Pychinka will move on individually to next week’s District 11 tournament along with Moyer. Seidick and Pychinka finished in the top-14 of 28, 3A boy golfers. Seidick was third in the tournament with a 79. He shot 42 on the front before tying for the top score on the back nine with a 37. Seidick’s back nine included birdies on 10, 12, 14 and 15.
Pychinka had two birdies on the front nine where he shot a 38. He carded a 44 on the back nine and finished with an 82.
Will Eberz of Stroudsburg won the event shooting a 76. Liberty’s Matt Ronca shot 77 and took second.
All qualifiers join the exempt players and team qualifiers in the District XI Championship next Monday at Olde Homestead. Exempt players that earned a spot directly into the District XI Championship included: any player who appeared in the 2021 PIAA Individual Championship, the top five boys and ties in the 2022 Colonial, EPC, and Schuylkill League Championships and the top two girls and ties in the 2022 Colonial, EPC, and Schuylkill League Championships.
Fight 1 Qualifiers
1. Will Eberz (S) +4, 2. Matt Ronca (Lib) +5, 3. Michael Seidick (North) +7, T4. Blake Greenawald (SL) +9, T4. Brady DiPasquale (PME) +9, T4. Noah Shurman (Emm) +9, T4. Zachary Miller (Naz) +9, T8. Colin Sarnoski (SL) +10, T8. Gavin Pychinka (North) +10, 10. Evan Murphy (PME) +11, 11. Lydon Patascher (PV) +12, T12. Aiden Greenburg (Naz) +13, T12. Bryson Hicklin (Naz) +13, T14. Drew Miller (NS) +14, T14. Landen Benner (Park) +14, T14. Lewis Ronca (Naz) +14.