Strath Haven’s Newlon, Radnor’s Colleran qualify

LIMERICK » Two things were threatening to approach all day on Wednesday — thunderstorms and Ben Pochet.

Fortunately for most, only one of them rolled through in the afternoon.

Pochet, a senior at Spring-Ford, put together a flawless second round at Turtle Creek to rally back and claim the District 1 Class 3A boys golf championship for the second straight season.

“This is by far the best round I’ve ever played in a tournament,” said Pochet who followed up Tuesday’s 2-under round with a 7-under on Day Two. “Best back-nine, best nine holes I’ve ever had, too. This is such a good way to go out — my last tournament round here (Turtle Creek), probably ever.”

Pochet trailed Central Bucks East junior Patrick Sheehan by three strokes with three holes to go before stringing together a clutch birdie-birdie-par finish while Sheehan stumbled down the stretch with a double bogey on No. 16.

For his second round, Pochet had a clean scorecard while mixing in seven birdies — five on the backnine — and 11 pars. He hit 13 fairways, 15 greens in regulation and pinged his putter 26 times, aided by a chip-in for birdie on No. 5.

“Going into the last three holes, I was thinking I’d have to birdie-out to have a chance to catch Patrick,” recalled Pochet. “I hit some big putts, some really good wedge shots down the stretch.”

Pochet got his late run started on No. 16. The Drexel University commit stuck an approach shot to within inches of the pin, then came away with a tap-in for birdie. He followed that up with a 40foot birdie putt on No. 17.

Then the nerves finally settled in on No. 18.

After hitting his second shot out of the bunker on the left of the fairway, Pochet stood over his ball while eying up a 200-plus shot over the water and onto the green.

Also among the qualifiers were Owen J. Roberts’ senior Ward McHenry, Central Bucks South’s Kevin Anthony and Holy Ghost Prep’s Liam Hart, all of whom finished at 1-under 143. Radnor’s David Colleran, Unionville’s Connor Bennick and Conestoga’s Morgan Lofland each shot even-par 144.

Five players who finished at 1-over battled it out for the final four spots with a playoff.

Norristown’s Josh Ryan, the freshman brother of Caleb Ryan, and Strath Haven’s Ben Newlon each birdied the first hole to survive the first wave.

Then on No. 9, Unionville’s Richie Kline and Council Rock South’s Matt Fleming each chippedin for birdie while Bishop Shanahan’s Ryan Conners left his birdie putt just short to miss the cut.