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Moravian Academy and William Mirams have historical day at the 2018 District 11 Golf Championships
October 8, 2018
William Mirams won his 4th consecutive District 11 Golf Championship
LOWER MACUNGIE TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Moravian Academy and William Mirams re-wrote the District 11 golf record books Monday at the 2018 District 11 AA Golf Championships at Lehigh Country Club.
The Lions, led by seniors Pete Chiaradia (80) and Griffin Lombardi (84), won a record fifth consecutive District 11 AA team championship by a 46-stroke margin (342-388) over Palmerton.
With the victory, Moravian Academy (13-1) established a new District 11 record for the most consecutive team golf championships, formerly set by Emmaus’s three consecutive district titles from 2013 to 2015.
Moravian Academy advanced to play in a PIAA AA East Subregion match against District 1 and 12, to be played Thursday, October 11 at Turtle Creek Golf Club in Limerick.
Moravian Academy has established a Colonial League golf dynasty the past five seasons with a 64-1 record, and five consecutive league titles.
“It’s absolutely fantastic,” said fourth-year Lions coach Geri Higgins (52-1). “After last year, one of my players Griffin (Lombardi) told me we’ll do it again. They started working right away after last year. They have all improved.”
In the AA boys competition, Mirams, a 17-year-old senior at Notre Dame of East Stroudsburg, shot 3-under-par 32-35–67 to become the first boy to win four consecutive District 11 boys golf titles.
Mirams, who shot 3-under-par for the second straight year, previously shared the record with Jeff Billie of Emmaus, who won three straight district crowns from 1963-1965.
Mirams, who is being recruited by several NCAA Division 1 golf programs, won by 17 strokes over Moravian Academy senior Griffin Lombardi (84).
Starting on the 11th hole, Mirams drove into 12 out of 14 fairways off the tee, hit 14 greens in regulation, and used only 29 putts. Mirams birdied the 11th, 15th, second, fourth, and seventh holes with short birdie putts.
“It was definitely one of the best rounds,” Mirams said. “My driver got me up close around 130 yards or in every hole. I definitely left a lot of strokes out there. I had a lot of lip-outs (four), and one for par.”
Satisfied with being the first boy to win four straight district titles, Mirams insisted he was focused on just the round at Lehigh Country Club.
“It feels pretty nice,” Mirams said. “I was focused out there today.”
Next, Mirams is pointing toward a goal he set his freshman year: to win the PIAA AA state title, October 22-23 at Heritage Hills Golf Resort in York.
He has finished eighth, fifth, and second the past three years in the event.
“That would definitely be nice,” Mirams said. “To have four straight districts and a state title would be cool. Since the first round of freshman year out there (at York), I’ve been pointing towards it. I feel I can do it.”
Mirams, Lombardi, Jacob Artz of Marian Catholic (86), and Albie Evans of Schuylkill Haven (87) will comprise the four-player AA boys contingent from District 11 to the PIAA East Region AA tournament next Monday at Golden Oaks Golf Club in Ruscombmanor Township.
Grace Sanborn, a sophomore at Moravian Academy, prevailed on the second hole of a sudden death playoff over Moravian Academy junior Keeler Nichols to win the District 11 AA girls title.
Sanborn and Nichols finished regulation play tied at 100. After both players double bogeyed the first playoff hole (par-4 first), Sanborn parred the second playoff hole (par-4 18th) to win when Nichols made a bogey.
Sanborn and Nichols advanced to the PIAA East Region AA tournament next Monday at Golden Oaks Golf Club in Ruscombmanor Township.
AAA
Mitch Machulsky, a senior at Emmaus, described his round Monday in animated terms as “an absolute adventure”.
Overcoming a triple bogey on the par-3 third hole, a four-putt double bogey on the par-3 seventh hole, and a case of nerves which caused him to miss a one-foot putt for par on the first sudden-death playoff hole, Machulsky gathered himself to make a two-putt par on the third sudden-death playoff hole to win the 2018 District 11 AAA Golf Championships boys title at the Lehigh Country Club.
Machulsky was tied after regulation play with Northampton senior Andrew Hozza after both players shot 5-over-par 75.
After both players made bogey (par-4 first hole), and a par on the neighboring par-4 18th hole, Machulsky two-putt for par from 30 feet on the third sudden-death playoff hole (par-4 first hole).
After Hozza missed a four-footer for par, Machulsky sank a two-foot par putt for the victory.
“I was thinking if I make this putt I win districts,” Machulsky said about the first playoff hole. “My arms were shaking. I just pushed it. I looked at the crowd and laughed it off.”
On the decisive two-foot par putt, Machulsky took his time.
“I looked at it for a while,”Machulsky said. “I thought come on, I can’t miss two of these. I’m really excited.”
Machulsky, and freshman Matt Zerfass (77) led perennial golf power Emmaus to their first District 11 AAA team golf title since 2015.
The Green Hornets (15-1), which won the 2018 Eastern Pennsylvania Conference regular season title, shot a four-player score of 315 to win the AAA title by eight strokes over Northampton (323).
Northampton (17-1), which won the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference golf tournament title last month, was also runner-up last season.
Emmaus has dominated regional high school golf since 2012 with six league titles (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 regular season, 2017 regular season, 2018 regular season), and three straight District 11 3A crowns from 2013-2015.
Emmaus advanced to play in a PIAA AAA East Subregion match against District 12, to be played Thursday, October 11 at the Steel Club in Hellertown.
Headed to Penn State to study computer science and sports management, Machulsky was surprised he won the title.
“I can’t believe this,” Machulsky said. “I’m still in shock. I was the three seed on the team. I just hit everything very well. I pured everything. I hit 15 greens in regulation.”
Machulsky’s roller coaster round of 38-37–75 featured four birdies. He sank putts from 20 and 30 feet respectively on the sixth and eighth holes, a five footer for birdie on the fourth hole, and made a key tap-in birdie on his final hole (par-4 12th) to get into a playoff.
Hozza shot 39-36–75. Beginning his round in the 15th hole, Hozza eagled the par-4 17th hole, and birdied the par-3 13th hole.
The six AAA boys golfers advancing to next Monday’s PIAA East Region AAA tournament at Golden Oaks Golf Club in Ruscombmanor Township are Machulsky, Hozza, Zerfass, Central Catholic senior Ian Arnold (77), Connor Gherghel of Blue Mountain (77), and Southern Lehigh senior Cole Eberling (79).
In the District 11 AAA girls competition, Stroudsburg senior Olivia Patrow shot 2-over-par 36-36–72 to win the title by ten strokes over Emmaus sophomore Michelle Cox (82), who was the EPC girls champion.
Patrow had three birdies (four, nine, and 18), drove into 10 out of 14 fairways off the tee, hit 14 greens in regulation and used 32 putts.
“It was my third best round in my high school career,” said Patrow, who averages 240 yards off the tee. “My thought was to take it shot by shot, nothing else. The key was 100 percent good approach shots and the putting accompanied it.”
Patrow plans to play college golf “somewhere south” .
“There are a few colleges I am looking at,” Patrow said. “I’m planning on deciding after the season.”
Working with teaching pro Brian Bergstol at Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort, Patrow has shown dramatic improvement the past two years.
“He has helped a lot,” Patrow said. “He has built a foundation for my golf swing.”
Patrow, Cox, and 2017 District 11 AAA girls champion Sophie Orsulak of Blue Mountain (86) advanced to the PIAA East Region AAA tournament next Monday at Golden Oaks Golf Club in Ruscombmanor Township.
District 11 Golf Championships
Lehigh Country Club (par 70)
Final 18-Hole Boys AAA Scores
PIAA AAA East Region qualifiers (6)
75 — Mitch Machulsky, Emmaus (won title on third hole of sudden-death playoff); Andrew Hozza, Northampton
(sudden-death playoff scores: Machulsky: bogey, par, par; Hozza: bogey, par, bogey).
77 – Connor Gherghel, Blue Mountain; Matt Zerfass, Emmaus, Ian Arnold, Allentown Central Catholic
79 — Cole Eberling, Southern Lehigh
Other scores:
80 – Chris Panny, Parkland; Trevor Grimm, Parkland; John Angelella, Parkland; Devon Britton, Northampton
81 – Jake Haberstumpf, Freedom; Aiden LeBlanc, Emmaus
82 – Joey Altemose, Liberty; Anthony Sawarynski, Northampton
83 – Ronald Webb, Wilson; James Grimm, Parkland
84 – Tom Gaudette, Pocono Mountain West; Evan Cartwright, Liberty; Luke Lanzone, Emmaus
85 – Charlie Long, Allentown Central Catholic; Derrick Yuengling, Blue Mountain
86 – Andrew Kovalchik, Northampton, Nate Wheeler, Northampton
87 – Ethan Saxe, Bangor
88 – Nolan Beagell, Liberty; T.J. Bohl, Nazareth
89 – Ethan Honsel, Nazareth; Trevor Schubert, Easton
93 – Preston Sincavage, Blue Mountain
94 – Nathan Myers, Allentown Central Catholic
101 — Ben Linden, Southern Lehigh
107 — William Norman; Northwestern
District 11 Golf Championships
Final 18-Hole Boys AA Scores
PIAA AA East Region qualifiers (4)
67 – William Mirams, Notre Dame of East Stroudsburg (3-under-par)
84 – Griffin Lombardi, Moravian Academy
86 – Jacob Artz, Marian Catholic
87 – Albie Evans, Schuylkill Haven
Other scores:
88 – Will McKay, Moravian Academy
90 – Ben Ortwein, NDGP; Steve Luke, NDGP
92 – Logan Kresge, Palmerton
94 – Davis Koch, Moravian Academy
98 – Christian Pfennig, Moravian Academy
100 – Ashton Gerhard, Weatherly
103 – Chris Omick, NDGP
104 – Tavio Agosti, Tamaqua; AJ Suraci, NDGP
NOTE: William Mirams won a record fourth consecutive District 11 AA boys golf title.
District 11 Golf Championships
Lehigh Country Club (par 70)
Final 18-Hole Girls AAA Scores
PIAA AAA East Region qualifiers (3)
72 – Olivia Paltrow, Stroudsburg
82 — Michelle Cox, Emmaus
86 — Sophie Orsulak, Blue Mountain
Other scores:
96 – Leah Coleman, Whitehall
97 – Emma Shelby, Saucon Valley
101 – Jess Bretzik, Northampton
103 – Corinne Deichmeister; Whitehall
110 – Andi Andrews, Northampton
111 – Ava Sweeney, Parkland
District 11 Golf Championships
Final 18-Hole Girls AA Scores
PIAA AA East Region qualifiers (2)
100 – Grace Sanborn, Moravian Academy (won title on second sudden-death playoff hole); Keeler Nichols, Moravian Academy
(sudden-death playoff scores: Sanborn: double bogey, par; Nichols: double bogey, bogey).
Other scores:
103 – Emily Wright, Allentown Central Catholic
111 – Casey Kershner, Marian Catholic
2018 District 11 Team Golf Championships
Lehigh Country Club (par 70)
Class AAA
Four-Player Team Score
Emmaus (15-1) 315 — Michelle Cox 82, Aiden Leblanc 81, Mitch Machulsky 75, Luke Lanzone 84, Matt Zerfass 77
Northampton (17-1) 323 — Andrew Hozza 75, Anthony Sawarynski 82, Nate Wheeler 86, Andrew Kovalchik 86, Devon Britton 80.
Blue Mountain (12-1) 341 — Kevin DiLorenzo 94, Connor Gherghei 77, Sophie Orsulak 86, Derrick Yuengling 85, Preston Sincavage 93.
Southern Lehigh (15-0) 350 — Cole Eberling 79, Jerry Ascolese 88, Ben Linden 101, Chris Andrews 82.
Note: Emmaus advanced to play in a PIAA AAA East Subregion match against District 12, to be played Thursday, October 11 at Steel Club in Hellertown.
2018 District 11 Team Golf Championships
Lehigh Country Club (par 70)
Class AA
Four-Player Team Score
Moravian Academy (13-1) 342 — Peter Chiaradia 80, Will McKay 88, Griffin Lombardi 84, Christian Pfennig 98, Tom Smith 90.
Palmerton (10-5) 388 — Logan Kresge 92, Mason Kistler 103, Derek Rea 93, Jacob Sutton 103, Josh Mooney 100.
Pine Grove (10-2) 425 — Karson Felty 105, Griffin Nagle 105, Dustin Dubbs 104, Casey Kershner 111, Ryan Culbert 111.
Marian Catholic (7-4) 457 — Jacob Artz 86, Johnathan Grutza 106, Walter Pavlik 127, Emily Reaman 138, Bella LaSante 156.
Note: Moravian Academy advanced to play in a PIAA AA East Subregion match against District 1 and 12, to be played Thursday, October 11 at Turtle Creek Golf Club in Limerick. Moravian Academy has won a record five consecutive District 11 AA team titles.
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