Emmaus, Moravian secure titles
Emmaus’ Michelle Cox was convinced that, with a better putting day, she would have shot a round in the 60s Monday at Olde Homestead. That left her merely with more to practice.
Cox, a junior, won her third Eastern Pennsylvania Conference girls golf title, shooting a 2-over 74 on a blustery day at Olde Homestead. Cox’s score, the lowest of anyone’s Monday, helped lift Emmaus to its first the EPC tournament title since 2014.
The day punctuated an unbeaten season for the Green Hornets, who won their seventh regular-season EPC title in eight years.
“We were great this year, and we think we can go to states as a team,” Cox said. “I’m hoping we can.”
Northampton senior Nate Wheeler shot a 3-over 75, then made a par on the first playoff hole to win the EPC boys title over Emmaus’ Aiden LeBlanc.
At Bethlehem Golf Club, Moravian Academy won its sixth consecutive Colonial League title. Notre Dame-Green Pond’s Ben Ortwein won the boys title in a two-hole playoff, and Moravian Academy’s Grace Sanborn defended her girls championship.
For Cox, this season has turned her career trajectory upward. She played well enough join the top 200 players in the American Junior Golf Association rankings after starting the season ranked above 1,400. Her summer schedule included five top-20 finishes at AJGA events.
This season Cox was consistently Emmaus’ top scorer and shot rounds of 66 and 69 in matches. On Monday, Cox hit the ball pure, reaching 17 of 18 greens in regulation. She planned to work on her putting after leaving Olde Homestead.
As the postseason begins, Cox has set a high personal bar. She’s seeking her first District 11 championship and is gearing toward states, where she placed 13th as a sophomore.
“I’m hungry to win districts, I want to win [PIAA] regionals and my main goal is getting to states,” Cox said. “Finishing 13th isn’t good enough. Heck, I want to win states. We’re going to try for that.”
Wheeler has a similar drive. The senior has lowered his scoring average nearly 20 shots since his freshman season, the product of what he called diving head-first into practice.
After shooting 75, which included five three-putt holes, Wheeler stood over his tee shot on the first playoff hole with shaky hands. He was even more nervous lining up a 30-foot birdie putt, considering how he had putted.
But Wheeler calmly twoputted for the winning par and afterward still was shaking.
“Usually when I start something I put all my effort into it,” Wheeler said, “and obviously today feels amazing.”
Joining Cox and LeBlanc on Emmaus’ championship team were John Keba (79), Colin Wong (82) and Matt Zerfass (83). On Sunday, Keba qualified for the championship flight of the Lehigh Valley Amateur at Green Pond.
Liberty freshman Jimmy Barker (76) finished third in the boys tournament.
Colonial League Tournament: Palmerton entered the league tournament with an unbeaten 13-0 record that included a two-shot victory over Moravian Academy. But Moravian Academy, coached by Geri Higgins, rallied to win another tournament title.
Tom Smith led Moravian Academy with an 8-over 79, followed by Armaan Pandher (80), Andrew Burke (84), Evan Eichenlaub (85) and Sebby Holbrook (85).
Sanborn, the defending girls champ, won by four shots over Northwestern’s Gabby Smalley. Sanborn will seek her second consecutive District 11 2A girls title Oct. 7 at Steel Club.
The boys competition needed two extra holes, with Ortwein edging Palmerton’s Tyler Hager for the title.