Norristown’s Ryan repeats as PAC champion

Eagles’ senior shoots 2-under 69 to win at Gilbertsville GC

GILBERTSVILLE >> Norristown junior Josh Ryan won the Pioneer Athletic Conference boys individual golf championship for the second year in a row on Monday with a 2-under par 69 at Gilbertsville Golf Club.

Ryan finished four strokes ahead of Methacton senior Nick Martin. The first 18 Class AAA and top two Class AA golfers qualified for the District 1 championships to be held in two weeks.

“I had a goal just to shoot in the 60’s,” said Ryan, who shot a 70 last year to beat his older and since graduated brother Caleb by a stroke. “I knew if I shot in the 60’s, I probably would win. I wanted to give myself as many opportunities as I could to make birdies and capitalize, and I think I did that pretty well today.”

Ryan played in the same group as Martin, who took an early 1-stroke lead with a birdie on the second hole. But Ryan made eight pars and an eagle on the front nine, playing on the first nine holes of the white course.

“It was a solid nine,” said Ryan. “The eagles are always nice. I was hitting my irons really well, giving myself a chance for birdies. I had a 30foot eagle putt and two 15-foot birdie putts. I birdied the last hole (No. 9 on the red course). It was a nice ending.”

Last year, Ryan went on to a fourth-place district finish, a tie for fifth in the Eastern Regional and a tie for 19th place at states. Since then, he’s been working on his game at Jeffersonville Golf Club.

“They’re a great group of guys there,” he said. “I’m going a little bit farther and my short game has been a lot better. My short game has saved a lot of strokes. And my irons have been a lot better this year

DENNIS WELLER — FOR MEDIANEWS GROUP Norristown’s Josh Ryan repeated as PAC individual champion Monday at Gilbertsville Golf Club.