Conestoga’s Morgan Lofland wins PIAA East Regional golf title

Conestoga High School junior Morgan Lofland finished first at the PIAA Class AAA East Regional Boys Golf Tournament Monday at Golden Oaks Golf Club, shooting a 5-under-par 67 to win by one stroke over Spring Grove junior Karl Frisk and Dallas sophomore Logan Paczewski.
Lofland, who began his round at hole No. 8 (shotgun start), was even par through 11 holes, then caught fire, going birdie, birdie, par, par, eagle, birdie, par on the final seven holes.
“My putter got hot about halfway through the round,” said Lofland. “I drained a couple of long putts. I couldn’t have played those last seven holes any better than I did today.”
Lofland’s hot seven-hole stretch began at No. 1, a 393 yard par 4, where he nearly holed out his approach shot for an eagle.
“I creamed my drive, it was one of my best drives of the round,” said Lofland. “I had 80 yards to the green, and I hit my 60 degree wedge to within an inch of the cup – the ball lipped out of the cup.”
On No. 2, a 380-yard par 4, Lofland hit his drive into the right rough, then wedged to about 25-30 feet from the hole. He made the uphill birdie putt to go two under par.
After pars at Nos. 3 and 4, Lofland got an eagle on the 484-yard par 5 fifth hole, hitting a drive and a 4-iron to the green, and knocking in a 35-foot putt.
On the following hole, a 420-yard par 4, Lofland hit a fine drive to the right center of the fairway. He hit his 56 degree wedge approach to within 15 feet of the hole, then made the birdie putt to go five-under.
“I knew I was tied for the lead when I lined up my 15-footer, so I really went after the putt,” said Lofland. “This was my best round of the season.”
The Conestoga junior played his best round of the season with a driver that he borrowed from a friend at his home course, Phoenixville Country Club.
“I cracked the top of my drive during a practice round Sunday, so I borrowed my friend’s drive for Regionals,” said Lofland. “It’s [very similar] to my driver.”
Conestoga golf coach John Jones said, “Morgan was very steady all day, with only one bogey, then he went on a crazy run for his last seven holes. He putted extremely well today and was driving the ball well.”
Lofland will now head to the PIAA Class AAA boys’ state individual tournament Oct. 21-22 at Heritage Hills Golf Resort in York. This will be his second time at the state individual tourney – as a sophomore, he did not get out of Regionals, but as a freshman, he placed 35th at States.
A total of 26 boys qualified for the PIAA Class AAA state tournament, by shooting 76 or lower at the East Regional. Chester County golfers who qualified included Lofland, Unionville junior Roy Anderson (shot 74, tied for 11th place) and Unionville senior Jack Cooley (75, tied for 14th).
At the PIAA Class AAA East Regional girls tournament, 13 golfers qualified for the PIAA Class AAA state tournament Oct. 21-22 at Heritage Hills Golf Resort in York. Three Chester County golfers qualified for States – Unionville freshman Mary Dunigan (shot 1-over-par 73, tied for third place), West Chester East sophomore Victoria Kim (74, fifth place) and Downingtown East sophomore Ava O’Sullivan (75, tied for sixth). Dunigan’s round included three birdies. The first-place finisher was Wissahickon freshman Elizabeth Beek.
At the PIAA Class AA East Regional boys tournament, Devon Prep junior Ryan McCabe shot a 78 to tie for ninth place and qualify for the PIAA Class AA state tournament Oct. 21-22 at Heritage Hills Golf Resort in York. He made the cut by four strokes.