Spring-Ford’s Fazio wins PAC boys golf title, leading seven Rams District 1 qualifiers
GILBERTSVILLE >> Even on a perfect weather day like the one on Monday morning and afternoon at Gilbertsville Golf Club, the players still struggle from time to time.
But it’s how they react to the tough stretches that determine how they finish, as was the case for Spring-Ford’s Luke Fazio and Jon Seifarth in the Pioneer Athletic Conference Boys Individual Golf Championship.
Fazio recovered from back-to-back double bogies on the back nine and won the title with a 2-over score of 73. Seifarth shook off a string of five straight bogies and finished second with a score of 74 on the red and white courses.
The top 20 players advanced to the District 1 Tournament on Oct. 4-5 at Turtle Creek Golf Course in Limerick.
“After a double bogie, a birdie got me back level-headed,” said Fazio, who shot four birdies on the day. “Exactly, basically that. Don’t let it repeat itself.”
Seifarth had what could have been a devastating stretch of bogies. But he also recorded six birdies for the 18-hole round, including four on his first six holes.
“The most important shot in golf is the next one,” he said referring to a quote from the legendary Ben Hogan that he has written in a notebook that he carries with him. “Every shot counts. A three-foot putt is just as important as a 300-yard drive.”
Spring-Ford sends seven golfers to district play, including Jake Blackmore (78), Jaden Minter (79), Robbie McNelly (79), Garrett Wible (81), and Noah Kim (82). The Rams, who went undefeated to earn the top seed in the four-team PAC Team Championships later this week, do not have a traditional No. 1 through No. 8 lineup for their matches.
“I wasn’t surprised if it was the first guy or the eight guy who won,” said Spring-Ford first-year head coach Gerry Hollingsworth. “They all shoot 37 to 39 (over eight holes). They all worked hard.”
Alex White (Pope John Paul II), Jarred Berish (Owen J. Roberts), Mike Liu (Methacton) and Ryan Horenci (Perkiomen Valley) finished in a tie for third place with scores of 77. Boyertown’s Michael Fenton and Peyton Moyer tied for seventh along with Blackmore with scores of 78. Minter, McNelly and Andrew Cowgill (Perkiomen Valley) followed with 79’s.
Erik Harken (Owen J. Roberts), J.R. Mcmenamin (Pottsgrove) and Jack Colyer (Perkiomen Valley) moved on with scores of 80, followed by Wible and Nick Parr (Owen J. Roberts) with 81’s. Paul Brady (Pope John Paul II), Ayush Patek (Perkiomen Valley) and Kim won the last three spots in a four-way playoff.
Fazio said he was warming up for a possible playoff for first which turned out to not be necessary.
“I was making par putts and good chip shots,” he said.
“Fairways, then I hit the green and then I made the putts,”said Seifarth.
Fazio finished tied for 11th place in last year’s PAC’s with a score of 80.
Colyer, Berish, Cowgill and Kim are also returning to district Class 3A District play. Brady qualified in Class 2A in 2019.
“I’ve been playing a lot of tournaments,” said Fazio. “I’ve gotten a little stronger and I’m hitting the ball longer.”
“My confidence is a lot better,” said Seifarth. “I’m just spending a lot of time working on my short game.”
Pioneer Athletic Conference Boys Golf Individual Championship
At Gilbertsville GC (par 71)
1. Luke Fazio, Spring-Ford, 73
2. Jon Seifarth,Spring-Ford,74
3. Alex White, Pope John Paul II, 77
3. Jarred Berish, Owen J. Roberts, 77
3. Mike Liu, Methacton, 77
3. Ryan Horenci, Perkiomen Valley, 77
7. Michael Fenton, Boyertown, 78
7. Peyton Moyer, Boyertown, 78
7. Jake Blackmore, Spring-Ford, 78
10. Jaden Minter, Spring-Ford,79
10. Robbie McNelly, Spring-Ford,79
10. Andrew Cowgill, Perkiomen Valley, 79
13. Erik Harken, Owen J.Roberts,80
13. J.R. McMenamin, Pottsgrove, 80,
13. Jack Colyer, Perkiomen Valley, 80
16. Garrett Wible, Spring-Ford, 81
16. Nick Parr, Owen J. Roberts, 81
*18. Paul Brady, Pope John Paul II, 82
*18. Ayush Patel, Perkiomen Valley, 82
*18. Noah Kim, Spring-Ford, 82
*Advanced to district tournament by virtue of involving four players for three spots
