Timesleader

Playing on to districts

J.Smith3 months ago

First Posted:

EXETER — Until Monday afternoon, Sean Soltysiak had never been in the spotlight as a golfer.

So the Tunkhannock senior was admittedly nervous during the five-hole playoff he endured during the Class 3A portion of the Wyoming Valley Conference Pre-District Tournament at Fox Hill Country Club, when nearly every golfer was watching intently.

“It’s the most nerve-wracking thing in my life, definitely,” he said after winning the marathon playoff over Coughlin’s Corey Hauser, Wyoming Valley West’s Derek Heffelfinger and Crestwood’s Jason Dotzel to advance to the District 2 Tournament, which will be held on Oct. 7 at Elmhurst Country Club. “I wish I would’ve shot one better and made it in the 18 holes, but I’ll take that. It’s tough when you got nerves running through you to make pars.”

After the first playoff hole, three players still remained tied. That changed on the second when Dotzel was beaten, leaving just Soltysiak and Houser, who went three more holes before the Tiger finally ended things with a par on the final hole with an eight-foot putt. It was especially satisfying for Soltysiak because he missed two close putts earlier in the playoff that could have ended things earlier.

“My hands were shaking so bad I couldn’t hold the putter,” said Soltysiak, who joined the WVC field of 16 Class 3A participants at districts and 17 Class 2A golfers on the boys side. The girls are sending a total of five to districts, four in 3A and one in 2A.

The 3A playoff was the only drama in the event as Dallas’ Ryan Georgetti claimed the 3A victory, beating Crestwood’s Joe Hurn and Coughlin’s Daulton Lentini by two strokes with a 74. The win was Georgetti’s first in a high school tourney as he qualified for districts for the third straight season.

Other multiple-time district qualifiers in Class 3A are Lentini, Berwick’s Matt Dalo and Ty Morzilla, Crestwood’s Billy Dombroski and Dallas’ Justin Brojakowski.

There was a little bit of drama in the 2A event as Holy Redeemer teammates Chase Makowski and Mariano Medico finished first and second, respectively, as Makowski finally get the best of his buddy in a tournament. En route to the victory, Makowski strung together a 4-under 32 on the back nine to pull away from the pack. He tallied six birdies on the last eight holes, but mixed in a bogey as well. To put into perspective what Makowski achieved on a windy course, Medico had five bogeys on the back nine, while Makowski kept sinking birdies.

“I wasn’t expecting to play that well today. I haven’t been hitting it well at all. I didn’t hit it well on the front side but managed a 38. I think my mindset was a little better (on the back nine),” Makowski said. “It’s a friendly competiiton (with Medico) but I want to beat him. If you beat a player like Mariano you know you did something good because he’s one of the best players in the area, maybe in the state. Any time you could beat him it’s a good job.”

When all was said and done though, the Royals qualified seven of their 10 golfers to districts and the top-five 2A finishers were all Royals.

“We first wanted to see the starting six make it and anybody outside of that,” Medico said. “I think it just shows how deep we are as a team. That (seven) of our 10 can make it it shows our depth.”

Redeemer’s Andrew Crossin joins his teammates Makowski, Medico, Ryan Crossin and Mike Boland as multiple time qualifiers for districts. Wyoming Seminary’s Andrew Golden and Lake-Lehman’s Nick Egan are also participating in districts for the second straight season.

Up next for the golfers before the individual district tournament in two weeks is the WVC Team Playoffs on Friday at Fox Hill Country Club, followed by the D2 team event at Fox Hill on Oct. 4.

Wyoming Valley Conference Pre-District Tournament

(at Fox Hill Country Club)

Class 3A

*Advanced on fifth playoff hole

Did Not Qualify for District 2 Tournament

Corey Hauser, Coughlin`45-43-88

Jason Dotzel, Crestwood`46-42-88

Derek Heffelfinger, Wyoming Valley West`40-48-88

Collin Krokus, Coughlin`44-45-89

Alex Anderson, Coughlin`44-45-89

Jonathan Sabatini, Dallas`47-42-89

Seth Korch, Crestwood`42-48-90

Tyler Evans, Berwick`41-49-90

Chad DeBona, Dallas`46-45-91

Joe Grandinetti, Crestwood`45-47-92

Tyler Kurilla, Coughlin`47-46-93

Braulio Garcia, Pittston Area`49-44-93

Girls Class 3A

Boys Class 2A

Girls Class 2A

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