Championships begin Monday; local stars have good shot at a title
Senior Matt Vital is teeing it up Monday and Tuesday at the PIAA Golf Championships with only one thought in mind: winning a gold medal.
“He’s got his style of play and level of play that give him the best chance of anybody,” Liberty coach Steve Bradley said. “I know he’s going there to win it. He has the ability to go super low and win things.”
The same can be said for Moravian Academy senior Evan Eichenlaub and Palmerton senior Tyler Hager. They have the game, they have the experience and they have the familiarity with the Penn State University courses.
They all have played American Junior Golf Association and other tournaments at PSU’s Blue and White Courses, so there won’t be a surprise factor.
Bradley has three players competing for the first time in his two-plus decades as head coach. Michael Vital and Jase Barker also are medal contenders.
“I’m expecting one of them to possibly win it or take top three,” Bradley said. “They can do it.”
Palmerton coach Alex Knoll is happy to have his three seniors finishing their careers on the state level too.
“Having the three of them there [is really good],” Knoll said. “All are great friends, [so] to end their careers in a positive way is great.”
Here are five things to know ahead of the PIAA Golf Championships:
1. Schedule When: Where:
Monday-Tuesday
Penn State University’s Blue and White Courses
Weather: Monday, mostly cloudy, high of 52 degrees, 20% chance of rain, 13-mph winds; Tuesday, mostly cloudy, high of 45 degrees, 15% chance of rain, 13-mph winds.
2. District 11 tee times (Monday’s first round) CLASS 3A (White Course):
(boys) Evan Murphy, Pocono Mountain East, 8:35 a.m., No. 10 tee; Matt Vital, Liberty, 8:50, No. 1; Jase Barker, Liberty, 9:10, No. 1; Michael Vital, Liberty, 9:30, No. 1; Noah Shurman, Emmaus, 9:40, No. 1; Hunter Probst, Stroudsburg, 9:50, No. 1; (girls) Camryn Hoff, Nazareth, 10:10, No. 1; Natalie White, Bangor, 10:30, No. 1; Chloe Chase, Parkland, 10:40, No. 1.
CLASS 2A (Blue Course): (boys) Evan Eichenlaub, Moravian Academy, 8:50, No. 1; Tyler Hager, Palmerton, 9:20, No. 1; Collin Schreiber, Moravian Academy, 9:40, No. 1; Connor Reinhard, Palmerton, 8:35, No. 10; Tyler Barton, Schuylkill Haven, 8:55, No. 10; Nathan Steinmetz, Palmerton, 9:15, No. 10; (girls) Mara Dubacher, Moravian Academy, 10:20, No. 1; Brooke Powis, North Schuylkill, 10:40, No. 1.
3. Back to normal
For the first time in three years the PIAA individual tournament will be a two-day, 36-hole event. It starts Monday with the Class 2A boys and girls on the Blue Course and 3A boys and girls on the White.
“I think that the old adage in golf is that the more holes you play, the cream will rise to the top,” Knoll said. “I know for [Hager] and [Reinhard] and [Eichenlaub] for District 11, I think we have just as much of a chance at success we had last year, if not more.”
4. Who has the experience?
Eichenlaub and Hager were tied for sixth last year in 2A. Matt Vital was tied for 12th in 3A, one shot out of a medal. Probst tied for 55th and Michael Vital tied for 57th.
Barker was tied for 46th two years ago.
Quaker Valley’s Jackson Bould was tied for second last year and Derry’s Hunter Jurica was tied for sixth in 2A.
Returning state champion Nick
Gross of Downingtown West leads the returning 3A medalists. He won on the second playoff hole in 2021.
West Chester Rustin’s Sam Feeney and Penn Trafford’s Nick Turowski were tied for fourth, and Pittsburgh Central Catholic’s Rocco Salvitti was tied for eighth.
5. It’s been awhile
For the first time since 2003 for the girls and 2001 for the boys, the state championships are not at Heritage Hills Golf Resort in York.
The PIAA is returning to Penn State University’s courses for the first time since 2001. The Blue and White layouts are longer than Heritage Hills with more spacious landing areas off the tees.
“Penn State has good, open, long golf courses,” Bradley said. “All three are long hitters. If they get their drivers in play, they’re going to feel good about their game.”