Back-to-back for Emmaus
Palmerton takes 2A title; 3 first-time champions crowned
Parkland senior Trevor Grimm thought his 2018 golf season ended too abruptly, which prompted him to set an immediate goal: to win a District 11 title. Having pushed himself for a year, Grimm accomplished it Monday.
Grimm shot an even-par 72, making nearly every putt under 10 feet, to win his first Class 3A boys championship at Steel Club in Hellertown. Grimm also advanced to next week’s PIAA East Region tournament, which he missed by one shot last year.
“I’ve been playing well the whole season, but this is definitely at the top,” Grimm said. “Coming in, my goal was to win, so it was awesome to be able to do that.”
District 11 crowned three first-time champs, including Emmaus’ Michelle Cox, who won the 3A girls title with a 1-over 73. Schuylkill Haven senior Albe Evans birdied the first playoff hole to win the Class 2A boys title.
And Central Catholic’s Emilie Wright, who won the Class 2A girls title as a sophomore, returned to shoot 87 and win her second as a senior.
“I knew coming in that I had the opportunity to win, so having a strong day is always a good thing,” Wright said. “I was ecstatic.”
Palmerton, which fell to Moravian Academy at the Colonial League tournament after an unbeaten regular season, rebounded to win the Class 2A team title. Moravian Academy had won the past five tournaments.
Emmaus, the unbeaten Eastern Pa. Conference champ, continued its dominance by winning a second consecutive 3A team title. Palmerton and Emmaus both advance to team states.
Grimm made putting the priority of his round Monday, when Steel Club’s greens rolled at a pace that made him comfortable. As a result, Grimm was consistent on them, missing just one putt inside 10 feet.
Grimm played well outside the high-school season as well, winning the Presidential Flight at the Lehigh Valley Amateur last month. Grimm plans to attend Liberty University, where he hopes to walk-on with the school’s nationally ranked golf team.
“I’ve been playing hard, focusing on every shot in practice rounds and tournament rounds, making sure every shot counted,” he said.
Cox has played plenty of tournament golf the past two weeks, from the high-school postseason to the Lehigh Valley Amateur, where she won two matches in the junior bracket. The most satisfying round came Sept. 26, when she and playing partner Haley Quickel of Delaware won a qualifier at Brookside Country Club to make the field for the 2020 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball.
The tournament features some of the nation’s top amateur players competing in a two-player format. Cox said she was thrilled to qualify for her first USGA event, especially since it gives her a reason to stay sharp over the winter.
At districts, despite shooting 73, Cox thought she could have played better, particularly in the short game. It’s something to work on for regionals.
“My issue is hitting it all over the property the first few holes,” she said. “I need a little mental reset on that.”
Wright was thrilled with her day and season, during which she average 81 with a seasonbest score of 78. After winning the district title in 2017, Wright didn’t advance to regionals last season. Now, she has her sights set on states.
“That would be amazing,” she said. “It’s been my goal since my freshman year to get to states. If I can get there, it would be like a high school golf dream come true in my eyes.”
Ben Ortwein, who shot 82 made the Class 2A boys playoff, advanced to the PIAA East Region tournament with Palmerton’s Logan Kresge (84) and Tyler Hager (85). In Class 3A, Emmaus’ Matt Zerfass (73) advanced with Liberty’s Matt Vital (74) and Jimmy Barker (75), Blue Mountain’s Connor Ghergel and Northampton’s Nate Wheeler (76).
Moravian Academy’s Grace Sanborn (94) advanced in 2A girls. Pleasant Valley’s Mary Scully and Saucon Valley’s Emma Shelby shot 90 to qualify in 3A girls.
Morning Call reporter Mark Wogenrich can be reached at 610-820-6588 or at mwogenrich@mcall.com.