STATE COLLEGE — Over two days and 72 holes of golf against Pennsylvania’s most elite high school competition, Plymouth Whitemarsh’s Rhianna Gooneratne was dominant.
The PW junior followed up a dazzling 5-under 67 in the first round with a strong 1-over 73 on Tuesday to capture the PIAA Class 3A championship on Penn State’s Blue Course.
“I was really hopeful, because I gained a lot of experience here the last two years,” said Gooneratne, who finished 14th in the state as a freshman and tied for 11th as a sophomore. “I’ve been working hard, and this year has been a learning experience. I think I’ve improved a lot since earlier this year.”
Gooneratne’s overall 4-under 140 gave her a 5-stroke cushion over Phoenixville senior Kate Roberts (145), the District 1 champ, who tied for state silver with North Pocono’s Gwen Powell.
Roberts’ sister Kayley Roberts (147), a Phoenixville sophomore, finished fourth in the state after securing a silver at districts.
Gooneratne’s 3A victory marked the fifth consecutive individual state championship from District 1, and it was the first from the Suburban One League since 2019.
It also was Plymouth Whitemarsh’s first individual state golf title since Keith Griffin won it in 1970.
In Round 2, Gooneratne — who placed third in District 1 last week — maintained the 5-stroke lead she built during a scorching first round.
“It was a lot of pressure,” she said. “I knew I had a chance to win it and I didn’t want to blow it. I tried to play a little more conservatively today. I was confident I had put in the work and I just had to trust my game.
“I knew if I stayed around even par, I’d be pretty happy,” she said.
Gooneratne, who often relies on her ball-striking off the tee to set up short approach shots and advantageous putts, gained lots of big-moment experience in tournaments outside of school as well. During the summer, she qualified for nationals, which will take place in Louisiana next month.
“She’s been calm, cool, and collected the entire time here,” Plymouth Whitemarsh coach Jeff Kavanagh said. “She’s very team-oriented and puts in the time herself. She totally deserves this. You couldn’t ask for a better player to coach.”
The only trouble Gooneratne encountered Tuesday was on Hole 14, which she triple-bogeyed (after birdieing it the previous day). But no worries — she sank a 35-yard putt to re-establish her command.
“That putt really calmed me down again,” she said. “I had a mishap on the tee shot, and that’s when I got a little worried, because Kate Roberts was coming behind me. She’s a great player.
“Some of the pin locations were a little weird, which made it challenging, so making that putt helped me a lot,” Gooneratne said.
The 14th pin was toward the left side of the green, on a slope near water, but Gooneratne’s putt found the left side of the hole and trickled in.
She finished even par the rest of the way to secure the championship.
Gooneratne’s family was in attendance to witness her victory, and she got a chance to spend time with her brother Dylan and sister Fiona, who both attend Penn State.
Dylan had a pair of top-20 state finishes (tied for 14th in 2020, and tied for 18th in 2019) when he was in high school.
“I’m just really thankful for the support from my family and my coach, and everyone at school, my teachers and the principal,” Gooneratne said. “It feels great.”
Other high-placing girls’ golfers from District 1-AAA included Mia Pace of Downingtown East (148), who took fifth in the state, and Upper Dublin’s Talia Hoffner (151), who tied for seventh.
North East’s Anna Swan (1-under 143) won the Class 2A gold on the White Course with an impressive performance over the two days.
Boys: Butler’s Swidzinski wins 3A in playoff; Wyoming Seminary’s Werner takes 2A title
Butler’s Hunter Swidzinski won a three-hole playoff to claim the 3A boys’ title on the Blue Course after finishing in a tie with Plum’s Wes Lorish and Penn Trafford’s Nick Turowski at 7-under 137.
Lower Merion’s Seiji Sako (138) secured a tie for fourth. Aidan Farkas of St. Joseph’s Prep (140) took seventh, and Spring-Ford’s Charlie Ferrise (141) — the District 1 runner-up — tied for eighth in the state.
West Chester Rustin’s Sam Feeney (142), the District 1 champion, and La Salle’s John Stevenson tied for 10th place.
Wyoming Seminary’s Nick Werner (6-under 138) captured the 2A boys’ crown on the White Course with a blistering 72 holes.
Nick Ciocca of Devon Prep (146) tied for ninth.
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Email Christiaan DeFranco at cdefranco@thereporteronline.com. Follow him on X at @the_defranc, or go to ChrisDeFranco.com.
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