A trio of Schuylkill County golfers are set to compete at the PIAA Golf State Championship at Penn State beginning Monday, October 20 at the Penn State White Course.
Schuylkill Haven’s Alan Evans is headed back to the state meet for the second straight year after tying for ninth at last year’s championship with a 146 final score.
“Alan’s (Evans) one of the best players I’ve ever seen in my life,” said North Schuylkill’s Jude Maziekas. “I’ve never seen Sam (Vinc) not hit a ball straight in his life.”
Lourdes’ Vivian Reiprish also won the District 4 Class AA girls golf championship with an 88 to advance to the PIAA Golf State Championship at Penn State.
Evans will be joined at the state meet by Maziekas, who placed sixth at the District 11 meet, and Tamaqua’s Sam Vinc who tied for fifth place at the District 11 Championship.
“It’s definitely something new and I think I can still do better than I did at leagues and districts and it’s just all one big goal,” said Vinc. “Alan and Jude are great competition and they’ve helped me get better.”
The top six boys and top three girls finishers from Class AA and 3A at the District 11 Championship advanced to the PIAA State Championship.
The trio of Schuylkill League golfers will be joined by Saucon Valley’s Anthony Albano and Renzo Ochotorena and Palmerton’s Jared Grammes from District 11 Class AA at the state meet.
Vinc won the Schuylkill League individual championship title as just a freshman with a two-over par 74. A birdie on the 18th hole put the freshman two shots ahead.
“I’ve been playing since I was five years old and I’ve loved every minute of it,” said Vinc. “It was a rollercoaster round and I was able to lock in for the last three holes.”
Reiprish won the Schuylkill League individual girls championship title after shooting an 86 to win by just one stroke over Minersville’s Emma Troutman with an 87.
Maziekas placed sixth at the league meet with an 85 while Evans placed second with a 76. Maziekas’ best performance of the season was when he shot a 67 at Mountain Valley Golf Course.
“Leagues was rough, districts I started out nice and I hit the ball a lot better and felt more comfortable at the ball,” said Maziekas. “The competition will help because there’s always somebody to beat now in this area and it gives you something to play for.”
Vinc’s goal heading to the state meet is to now shoot in the low 70’s and earn a top-20 placement.
“I’ve played there a few times but I haven’t played very good there so I’m looking to make that change,” said Vinc. “There’s going to be way better conditions than last time so that will be an advantage.”
The local golfers will take on Penn State’s White Course Monday, October 20.
