Elijah Ruppert set to face friendly rivals
Elijah Ruppert was able to keep close tabs this summer on the two golfers expected to be his chief competition for the BCIAA boys championship this season.
Daniel Boone’s Colton Yenser, Berks Catholic’s Michael Fiorvante and Ruppert, a senior at Brandywine Heights. saw each other locally and at Philadelphia Junior Golf Tour events frequently over the last several months.
Muhlenberg’s Tyler Kipp, who’s a freshman at California (Pa.), won the Berks boys title last year, followed by Yenser, Ruppert and Fiorvante, who all qualified for the PIAA Championships.
They motivate each other without having to say a word.
“We’re all friends, but we’re all trying to beat each other,” Ruppert said. “It makes me work even harder. I’m out there every day trying to get better because I know they’re as good as me.
“It fuels me and makes me work harder knowing they’re right there.”
Ruppert, a three-time All-Berks selection, was at the top of the Class 2A leaderboard after the first day of the 2019 PIAA Championships with a 2-over 72, tied with Skyler Fox of Riverside
and Cam Colbert of Hickory.
He was two strokes off the lead through 27 holes before he double-bogeyed 10 and 18 and tied for third at 148, four strokes behind Fox, the eventual champion.
“It was a really good experience,” Ruppert said. “I had a great round the first day. The second day was a little tough. I felt like I played better than I scored. I believe I should have been alone in second.
“I was happy with third. It was a good season. I can’t complain. I still have this year. I’ll try to go for it all again.”
Yenser and Fioravante will stand in his way in the county. Yenser finished second at the BCIAA tournament last year, two strokes behind Kipp; placed eighth at the District 3 Class 3A tournament; and tied for 28th at states. Fioravante was fourth in the county, 14th at districts in 3A and 14th at states.
Fioravante was the top qualifier at the BCGA Match Play at Reading Country Club earlier this month before he lost in the semifinals to Yenser, who fell to Nick Vecillio in the finals.
At the Philadelphia Junior Tour Championship, Yenser shot even-par 71 to finish third, three strokes behind Kipp, the winner. Ruppert and Fioravante tied for 19th with 78s.
Last month at the Philadelphia Junior Fourball Championship, Ruppert and Yenser teamed to finish third with a 4-under 68 at Saucon Valley Country Club’s Grace Course.
“We’re all good friends,” Ruppert said. “Colton plays at Golden Oaks now, so we’re playing together a few times a week. Mike’s a good friend of mine, too.”
Ruppert began playing golf with his father, Kevin, when he was 6. He’d tag along at Golden Oaks and hit from wherever his father was on the course. He played soccer through seventh grade before he gave it up to focus on golf.
“You don’t have to rely on anybody else in golf,” he said. “It’s also hard work. The person who works the hardest usually will be the one who succeeds. You can always get better. Practicing is the only way you can get better.”
Ruppert also works hard in the classroom, carrying a 4.23 cumulative gradepoint average. He plans to major in engineering and play golf in college. He hasn’t decided where he will attend.
“He’s very smart and hard-working,” said Bullets golf coach Jeff Sheeler, who teaches physics at Brandywine. “He’s very popular. He gets along with everybody in the school.
“He works hard on the golf course, too, which is why he’s as good as he is.”
Ruppert said the best part of his game is his short game, especially with his wedges. At 6-1 and 160 pounds, he drives the ball an average of 290 yards.
He wasn’t sure if he’d get a shot at achieving his goals of winning county, district and state titles this season because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“I was worried,” Ruppert said. “I didn’t think there was a chance we were going to have a season. I thought I was going to be playing Philly Junior Tour events instead of the high school season.
“The fact that we’re getting to show off what we’ve worked for is amazing.”