NEWS
Former Emmaus golfer Samantha Fritzinger becomes first amateur woman to qualify for the Lehigh Valley Open
September 20, 2018
BETHLEHEM TWP. — Samantha Fritzinger made Lehigh Valley golf history for women’s golfers on Monday, July 9.
In coming years, the 19-year-old Emmaus High school graduate’s (2017) breakthrough could be the start of something significant for the game in the region.
Competing in the Lehigh Valley Open Junior Qualifying Tournament at Northampton Country Club, Fritzinger shot 10-over-par 82 to gain a three-way tie for second place, four strokes behind medalist Jordan Barker of Bethlehem, who shot 78.
With three qualifying spots for the Lehigh Valley Open available in the event conducted by the Lehigh Valley Junior Golf Tour, Fritzinger made two pars in a sudden-death playoff to outlast recent Parkland graduate Ben Tetzlaff (bogey on first playoff hole), and Pottsville graduate Josh Zelinsky (par, bogey) to finish second in the event, and thus become the first female amateur golfer to qualify for the Lehigh Valley Open.
Fritzinger, a three-time District 11 girls 3A champion, will compete against top club professionals from eastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey, and top amateurs from the greater Lehigh Valley region, in the 11th annual Lehigh Valley Open, scheduled for July 23-24 at Northampton Country Club.
The Lehigh Valley Open is conducted by the Philadelphia Section PGA, in conjunction with the Golf Association of the Lehigh Valley/ Typically, 60-70 club professionals from the section compete, alongside 24 amateur golfers who qualify through the Golf Association of the Lehigh Valley qualifying criteria.
A rising sophomore at Wingate University, a NCAA Division II institution in North Carolina, Fritzinger wasn’t sure her 82 would be a successful qualifying score.
“I wasn’t sure that would be a good score,” Fritzinger said. “I’m glad I stayed around.”
Bethlehem Golf Club head pro Paul Viola, who has taught Fritzinger since she was 12 years-old, was happy for her qualification.
“It’s fantastic,” Viola said. “I see how far she has progressed. I couldn’t be more proud of her.”
I another piece of history, Jordan Barker, a 15-year-old rising sophomore at Liberty High School became the youngest amateur golfer to qualify for the Lehugh Valley Open in the tournament’s 11-year history.
2018 Lehigh Valley Open Junior Qualifying Tournament
Monday, July 9
Northampton Country Club (par 72)
Final 18-Hole Scores:
16-19 years-old –1. Jordan Barker 40-38-78 (6-over-par); 2. Samantha Fritzinger 43-39-82 (par, par on sudden-death playoff holes); 3. Joshua Zelinsky 41-41-82 (par, double bogey on sudden-death playoff holes); 4. Ben Tetzlaff 43-39-82 (double bogey on sudden-death playoff hole); 5. Trevor Grimm 42-41-83; 6-T. Ian Arnold 44-40-84, Mitch Machulsky 39-45-84, Samuel Mortazavi 43-41-84, Dylan Keopraseut 45-39-84; 10-T. Matthew Vital 40-46-86, John Angelella 48-38-86; 12-T. Owen Fahs 43-44-87, AJ Olszewski 46-41-87, Joseph Altemose 43-44-87; 15-T. Cole Eberling 44-44-88, James Grimm 42-46-88, Tom Smith 45-43-88, Nate Wheeler 44-44-88; 19. Ian Masenheimer 43-46-89; 20-T. Eric Cichocki 43-48-91, Joshua Roerig 44-47-91; 22. Spencer Aydelotte 48-47-95; 23. Ronald Webb 50-47-97; 24. Trevor Schubert 52-46-98; 25. Tristan Keopraseut 51-48-99.
NOTE: Jordan Barker (Liberty sophomore), Samantha Fritzinger (former Emmaus golfer), and Josh Zelinsky (former Pottsville golfer) successfully qualified for the 2018 Lehigh Valley Open. Samantha Fritzinger becomes the first female amateur golfer to compete in the Lehigh Valley Open.
14-15 years-old — 1. Jacob Haberstumpf 44-43-87 (won title with a par on the first sudden-death playoff hole); 2. Jason Koch 42-45-87; 3. Ethan Honsel 41-48-89; 4. Nathan Seidel 50-44-94; 5. Owen Wandalowski 46-49-95; 6. Freddy Bacon 48-49-97; 7. TJ Bohl 48-50-98; 8. Drew Bohl 53-54-107.
12-13 years-old — 1. Michael Vital 40-42-82; 2. Prithvi Dixit 50-45-95; 3. Tyler Barton 49-51-100.
Girls — 1. Grace Sanborn 45-46-91; 2. Lily Latzo 43-50-93; 3. Leah Coleman 48-52-100; 4-T. Vicky Du 53-56-109, Hannah Puc 55-54-109; 6. Mary Scully 54-56-110.
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