Gooneratne takes 1st, helps Plymouth Whitemarsh earn district wild card at SOL Boys Championship
WARMINSTER >> Close the previous two seasons, Dylan Gooneratne finally put himself at the top of the leaderboard at the Suburban One League Boys Golf Championship.
The Plymouth Whitemarsh junior overcame both the high temperatures and the rest of the field Wednesday at Five Ponds Golf Club, leading the SOL’s 37 qualifiers to the District 1-3A Championship with an even-par 71.
“It was good,” Gooneratne said. “I hit some good drives and I had a couple good approach shots which gave me some birdie attempts. And I had a few blemishes but for the most part I kept the ball in play.”
Gooneratne’s first-place effort also helped the Colonials claimed the league’s wild card berth into districts as PW’s 323 edged out Central Bucks South (326) and Council Rock North (328).
“It’s really cool, we’ve had such a great time this season and we really enjoyed each others’ company and I think it shows a lot for how much we persevered through this year,” Gooneratne said. “And it’ll just be a fun time at districts for all of us.”
Kevin Lydon led a strong day for Central Bucks West, the sophomore one of four Bucks earning a district spot as he placed second with a 3-over 74.
“My putting was on fire today,” Lydon said. “Made a lot of putts. Two 50-footers, around there. Both for bogeys but still. Two birdies today.”
The Bucks’ Milo Jezzeny and Nick Hano both carded 4-over 75s to finish in a four-way tie for third place with Souderton’s Stephen Butler and Wissahickon’s Jackson Tappen. CB West, which won a third-straight SOL Continental Conference title, also had John Lee qualify at 7-over 78.
“It’s a great group of kids that we have on our team,” Lydon said. “And hopefully we’re going to do well the next couple of years.”
Gooneratne’s 71 was his best score at SOLs after shooting a 75 each of the past two years — tying for third a freshman then as a sophomore finishing alone in second a shot back of a three-way tie for first.
“I put a lot of time in this summer and it’s good to finally see it pay off,” Gooneratne said. “And I think my teammates were really supportive of me this whole year and I was supportive of them and that’s why I was able to get it done tonight.
While Gooneratne was satisfied with his performance, the main goal was to secure a spot at districts, which starts Monday at Turtle Creek Golf Course.
“It’s all about the next round,” Gooneratne said. “I haven’t been able to make it out of districts the first round the past two years. That’s what I’m looking to do. It’s all about that now.”
Temperatures that reached into the 90s added to the challenges presented by Five Ponds course Wednesday.
“It was definitely hot out there and the greens were really firm, which was just something to get used to with the shots in but got used to it,” Butler said. “Fast greens, got used to it.”
Butler struggled with his driver but still ended his round with a 75 and was one of two from Souderton to qualify for districts. Big Red’s James O’Malley advanced in a six-golfer playoff for the final five spots after shooting a 12-over 83. The Indians were fifth in the team standings with a 333.
“It felt pretty good, I didn’t have tee shots hardly at all, my driver was not going well,” Butler said. “So hopefully we’ll get that in shape for next week but other than that played really solid, putted well, hit good pitch shots, good irons.”
Joining O’Malley in claiming the final district berths in the playoff — which went just one hole — were Abington’s Samuel Giordano, Central Bucks South’s Jack Neumann, William Tennent’s Stephen Skiba and Jake Waskowitz of Council Rock South.
Wissahickon joined CB West in sending four golfers to Turtle Creek, Tappen pacing the SOL American champ Trojans with his 75 but just behind were teammates Christian Lee at 5-over 76, Christian Matt at 6-over 77 and Samuel Barsh at 7-over 78.
“Pretty average round,” Tappen said. “I mean lot of ups and downs. If I recall I had a fair amount of birdies but also my fair share of bogeys. So add that all up, it was all right.”
Abington, Hatboro-Horsham, Pennridge, Plymouth Whitemarsh and William Tennent all had two golfers qualify for districts.
Advancing for Abington were Giordano and Tyler Leyden, who carded a 6-over 77. Hatboro-Horsham’s Noah Sim tied Lee for seventh at 5-over 76 while Jack Martin tied six other golfers for 18th at 9-over 80.
Pennridge, which placed fourth as a team at 332, had Blake Stewart (8-over 79) and Brendan Bauer (11-over 92) move on with Skiba and Charlie Molzahn (7-over 78) doing the same for Tennent. Joining Gooneratne for PW was Jesse Stern, who posted an 11-over 82.
Springfield-Montco’s Ryan Firman (8-over 79) and North Penn’s Dominic Della Penna (10-over 81) also made districts. SOL National champ Pennsbury had the most qualifiers with six.
