October 19, 2019
RECAP >> One year after missing the cut in his first attempt at trying to qualify for the PIAA State Championships, Matt Zerfass wanted to make sure that the same thing wouldn’t happen in his second go-around.
Mission accomplished.
The Emmaus sophomore put together one of his best rounds of the season earlier this week at Golden Oaks Golf Club in Fleetwood as he finished tied for fifth place in the boys race at the AAA East Regional after posting an impressive a 1-under 71 (35-36) on the Par-72 course.
Zerfass will be one of two Hornet golfers heading to Heritage Hills Golf Resort in York to compete for next week’s individual state championship, joining teammate junior Michelle Cox who also qualified for the second straight season.
“I’m extremely excited to be going to states,” said Zerfass, who has a 74.5 scoring average. “That was my goal at the beginning of last year and now it’s a little more important to me being that I’m a sophomore. I know now that I have the talent to compete and I’m really excited.”
Zerfass, who a year ago on the same course shot a 10-over 82, had four birdies on the day to go along with 11 pars. His round of 71 was just two shots off his season-low round of 69 shot back on August 15 at Bethlehem Municipal Golf Course.
“I’m very pleased with my game,” said Zerfass. ” I couldn’t have asked for anything better.”
Zerfass has been playing some of his best golf of the season. Just four days ago at the PIAA subregional at LuLu Country Club in Glenside, he was third overall with a 77; at the District XI championships at the Steel Club he shot a 73 and finished second; and at the District XI qualifier at Olde Homestead Golf Course he also shot 73 and finished tied for first.
“I like everything (about my game),” he said. ” I’ve hit the driver really well and I’ve also been pretty strong with both my chipping and putting. My iron play has been normal. I’m not hitting them great, but I’m also not hitting them bad, either.”
Zerfass’ teammate, junior Michelle Cox, also qualified for the second year in a row, finishing tied for ninth place after posting her highest round of the season, a 5-over 77.
Cox, who finished fifth a year ago with a 7-over 79, was 1-over thru the first nine holes then on the back nine finished 4-over. She had five bogeys and 13 pars on her round.
Cox, the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference’s MVP, finished 13th overall at last year’s state tournament.
Conestoga junior Morgan Lofland won the boys individual title with a 5-under 67, while Wissahickon freshman Elizabeth Beek was tops in the girls race with a 6-under 66.
A total of 26 boys qualified for next week’s state tournament along with 13 girls.
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PIAA East Regional (Golden Oaks Golf) , Top 5
Boys – 1. Morgan Lofland (Conestoga) 67, T2. Karl Fisk (Spring Grove), Logan Paczewski (Dallas) 68, 4. Brady Davidson (Cumberland Valley) 70, T5. MATT ZERFASS (EMMAUS) 71, Carson Bacha (Central York) 71,
Girls – 1. Liz Beek (Wissahickon) 66, 2. Sydney Yermish (Lower Merion) 72, T3. Mary Dunigan (Unionville) 73, Ammala Moua (Cocalico) 73, 5. Victoria Kim (WC East) 74. T9. MICHELLE COX (EMMAUS) 77, Chaela Barnett (Archbishop Wood) 77