Conestoga’s Yao rolls to repeat with 9-shot win
LIMERICK » To the surprise of absolutely no one, Conestoga’s Samantha Yao didn’t break a sweat en route to successfully defending her district girls’ class 3A golf title on Wednesday at Turtle Creek Golf Club.
The junior notched the only sub-par round of the day to trounce the rest of the field at the District 1 Golf Championship. Yao’s nearest competitors were Liddie McCook of Downingtown East and Sophia Mancuso of Central Bucks East, who finished nine shots back.
“I won it last year, so with that in mind, I knew I could do it again,” Yao said. “I felt a little pressure (as defending champ), but it’s going to be like that in a tournament like this no matter what.”
No Delco players qualified for regionals. Haverford’s Riley Quartermain finished one shot out of the playoff with a second round score of 10-over. Strath Haven’s Lauren Butscher finished one shot behind Quartermain.
Playing on a more difficult venue than the day before, Yao carded a 1-underpar 71, which was six shots better than the nearest competitor. Combined with a 74 on Tuesday at Gilbertsville Golf Club, her two-day, 32-hole total was 2-over 145.
“Last year I shot 69 here in districts,” Yao said. “I’ve always played pretty well here.”
Including Yao, a total of eight 3A golfers advanced to the PIAA Regionals, which will take place on Oct. 16 at Golden Oaks Golf Club in Fleetwood. Villa Maria’s Brooke Sander (98-97 – 195) was the lone local qualifier from class 2A.
“The girls are getting so much better overall, even from last year,” said Wissahickon’s Cristea Park.
Park (79-76 – 155) was one of the regional qualifiers, but the junior had the day’s top highlight: the first hole-in-one of her golfing career. The rest of the qualifiers include McCook (7678 – 154); Mancuso (75-79 – 154); Central Bucks South’s Lizzie Palmieri (76-80 – 156); Unionville’s Charlotte Scully (82-77 – 159); Great Valley’s Liv Juliana (80-80 – 160) and Mt. St. Joseph’s Clare Gimpel (89-81 – 161).
“My main goal for regionals is to qualify and get to states, and I would really love to have a (state) championship,” said Yao, who plays out of White Manor Country Club and has been playing golf for a decade, since age eight.
Yao toured the 5,827yard, par-72 layout with two birdies, 15 pars and one bogey, which came on her final hole and the outcome already assured. McCook and Mancuso were in her foursome on Wednesday and were undoubtedly impressed.