OJR’s Sager shoots career-best at districts
GILBERTSVILLE >> Maddie Sager picked a very appropriate time to shoot her career-best round to keep her illustrious scholastic career going.
The Owen J. Roberts senior fired a 5-under-par 66 to lead the pack on the first day of competition at the PIAA District 1 Girls Golf Championship at Gilbertsville Golf Club. Sager led a field of 15 girls who advanced to play the second round at Turtle Creek Golf Course in Limerick Tuesday. The cutoff line was 79.
“That’s the best round I’ve ever had,” she said. “I had no bogeys. Driving is my weakest, but I had a pretty good game today. I started right. It was pretty good.”
Sager said her putting game was really on.
“I had one long one on the last hole, which gave me the 66,” she said. “I was sticking things close. It was just a really good day overall.”
Sager said the 66 represented her top score ever by a large margin as she had never even broken 70 before.
“That was a big improvement,” she said.
Sager and Perkiomen Valley’s Carly Dorminy (74) led Pioneer Athletic Conference golfers during the district event. Pope John Paul II’s Jaclyn D’Angelo was up next at 76.
Sager played in a threesome with Radnor’s Caitlin Bullock and Hatboro-Horsham’s Cameron Fisher.
Coatesville’s Samantha Staudt finished two strokes in back of Sager at 68. Council Rock North’s Madeline Herr, the Suburban One League champion, placed third with a 69. Radnor’s Gabby Kim finished with a 70.
Radnor star Brynn Walker checked in with a 71 while Conestoga’s Samantha Yao closed at 72.
Dorminy came up shy of the 70 she shot to capture the PAC-10 Girls Title two weeks ago at the same Gilbertsville Golf Club Course, but her 74 was still sharp enough to advance her to the second day. It was an accomplishment she did not reach in her previous two attempts.
“It was another good one, not too bad,” said Dorminy. “My putting was pretty good. My driving was not my best today. My shots into the green got a lot better at the end, and I chipped pretty good.”
In her past two tries, Dorminy had scores of 83 and 80 to miss the cut.
“So I really wanted to make it today,” she said. “I wanted to make it to the next day. District 1 has by far the most talented golfers.”
Dorminy played in a trio with Walker and Joanie Gannon of Mt. St. Joseph.
“I played with Brynn Walker, who is one of the best in the state,” said Dorminy. “She is a great player.”
Dorminy registered a birdie on the final hole to help boost her total score. “I made the same long putt that I had at the PAC-10s there.”
Also finishing at 74 were West Chester East’s Sophia Amoroso, Council Rock North’s Lauren Muhlbauer and Chichester’s Caprian Kan. Downingtown East’s Liddie McCook had a 75. Unionville’s Kate Evanko had a 76, and Henderson’s Natalie Jacobs wound up at 77. At 78 was Mt. St. Joseph’s Alex Mercader, and Wissahickon’s Andrea Mazurek closed out the qualifiers at 79. Phoenixville’s Grace Simenson missed the cut by two strokes with an 81.
NOTES >> Hatboro-Horsham’s Cassidy Gavaghan shot an 80 while Hatters teammate Hannah Fireman had an 83. … Boyertown’s Katie Goida had an 84 while teammate Savanna Haas had an 85. … PJP’s Courtney Ciaola had a 90. … Mt. St. Joseph’s Joanie Gannon had an 80 and Claire Brown finished with an 84. … Strath Haven’s Lauren Butscher an 83.
