Mercury All-Area: Phoenixville freshman Kayley Roberts turns in fabulous first year with PIAA runner-up finish, state team title
Many high school freshmen would be intimidated playing with and against the best golfers in the state. But not Kayley Roberts, who approached the PIAA Class 3A Girls Individual Championship Tournament the way she does any other … with the intent to win it and have some fun at the same time.
The result was a silver medal for the Phoenixville ninth-grader, topping off a fantastic season that included a Pioneer Athletic Conference championship, a tie for sixth place in the District 1 Tournament and a team championship for the Phoenixville girls.
She showed that she was the best of several outstanding local players this year, certainly earning her selection as Mercury All-Area Girls Golfer of the Year.
“The plan going into a tournament is always to win,” said Roberts. “States is always tough. My goal is to go out there and win and have fun. It was a new experience for me.”
Roberts led the field at the Penn State Golf Course after shooting a 1-under 71 on the first day, one stroke better than two-time state champion Sydney Yermish of Lower Merion. Another 71 on the second day gave her a total of 142, with Yermish shooting a 67 to take the title by three strokes.
“I think it was mostly driving off the tee,” Roberts said concerning her success on the PSU White Course. “Being able to find the green … and my putts. Mostly just sticking to what I know. I just try to focus on my game – my swing, getting it onto the fairway and making as many putts as a can.”
Her score was even more impressive considering the weather.
“The conditions at State College were terrible that week; cold, wind and even some snow the last day of the tournament,” said Phoenixville coach Sandy Waltz. “Kayley was impressive as she consistently battled to stay in the game. I’m most impressed with her course management and the ability to keep a level head in such a big atmosphere, especially being in the lead group on the final day of individual play. Quite an accomplishment for a freshman!”
The day after her stellar individual performance, Phoenixville won the state team championship. She shot a 74 to tie older sister Kate Roberts for the lowest score of the day and the Phantoms won the team title with a three-player score of 240, two shots better than Peters Township.
Kayley Roberts’ PIAA performance was not all that big a surprise after her consistently strong play earlier in the year. She shot a 65 late in the regular season to tie the course record at Turtle Creek, becoming the youngest female to do so.
A few days later, she captured the PAC Individual Tournament title with a 71 at Turtle Creek, four strokes better than Spring-Ford’s Nicole Yun. Then she recorded a 76 at Raven’s Claw and a 69 at Turtle Creek in the two-day district tournament. Her total of 145 earned a tie for sixth place and one of the district’s nine state berths.
Her 76 helped Phoenixville to the district title, edging Spring-Ford 246-247 for the only District 1 berth at states.
Throughout the year, she was helped by the presence of sister Kate, a Phoenixville junior and 2021 PAC champion.
“It helps because we go out in the first group together,” said Kayley Roberts. “I have someone I can talk to. The No. 1 spot on the team went back and forth.”
Kayley Roberts began playing golf at age 8, getting encouragement and help from her father Kenny Roberts, who serves as an assistant coach for the Phoenixville team.
“He loves the game,” Kayley said. “He started helping us with our swings and got us into tournaments. We try to be at the golf course every single day. I’ve improved my putting the last year, being able to adjust to the green, knowing the speed of my putts and reading the green. And driving, my distance and accuracy have been improving.”
“I’ve had the pleasure of watching Kayley grow as a player the last two years,” said Waltz. “She would often come out to watch her big sister Kate practice with the team and also practice on her own. Kayley is super competitive and thrives on the challenges that golf provides. If she wasn’t happy about a particular aspect of her game during a match, she would often go to the putting green or range and work on that skill immediately after the match.”
Kayley Roberts says she likes the mental part of the game in addition to the physical aspect.
“I just really like the game,” she said. “It’s not like other sports where you run around a lot. In golf in particular, there’s so many scenarios that can happen. And the driving … seeing the ball go so far. I love that.”
There was a lot to love about Kayley Roberts’ phenomenal first year.
