Throughout this season, Evan Walters has been his team’s top performer and most consistent golfer averaging a score of a little over 75 per round.
Competing at the District XI 3A Championship at the Steel Club in Hellertown on Tuesday, the sophomore once again put together another solid round, and this one, was extra special as it earned him a spot at a place where all golfers dream about back in August when the fall sports season begins.
Walters, 15, shined on the big stage amongst all the area’s top local golfers as he finished tied for third place carding a 2-over 74 and punching his ticket to the PIAA State Tournament at Penn State University on October 21 and 22.
He becomes the first Emmaus golfer to reach states since Noah Schurman did it back in 2022.
“I was really excited when I came back in from my round to learn I had qualified,” said Walters, who missed out on states a year ago as a freshman after his round of 87. “I assumed when I shot 74 that I had made it, but I didn’t know till someone told me afterwards.”
Teeing off at 10:30 a.m. and playing alongside some of the areas other top golfers in Nazareth’s Zach Miller, Southern Lehigh’s Caleb Walsh and Northampton’s Kohler Strohl, Walters sparkled through the first 14 holes leading the entire field.
Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to sustain the lead down the stretch, but he still played well enough to be amongst just six golfers to head to states.
Walters shot a 1-under 35 on the front nine and 3-over 39 on the back. He finished with three birdies on the day and 10 pars.
“I used to be a member here when I was a younger, so I was familiar with the course,” said Walters. “In my opinion, it’s one of the toughest around here. It’s long and I don’t hit the ball particularly far. The greens are also faster than I’m used to.”
“His goal was always to make it to states,” said Patrick Birns, Emmaus’ head coach. “It was a great day for him. His range session today wasn’t his best, but he still felt good.
“Evan is always calm and collected and you can’t always tell if he’s having a good or a bad day,” added Birns. “The one thing I didn’t realize about him is that he’s a competitor.”
Birns also wasn’t surprised with how well his No.1 golfer played.
“My expectations for him (coming into the season) were high but you never know in a one-day event how kids are going to perform,” said Birns. “He added 20 yards on his distance this season and probably gets that from his dad who is like 6-4 and a big strong guy.”
“Evan’s iron play is also strong. At any time, he feels like he can land a shot on the green or near the pin.”
Walters is now excited as he heads out to states for the first time and plays a course, he’s familiar with. Emmaus opened the season playing at the Happy Valley Invitational where Walters shot a 5-over 72.
“I’m just hoping to go out there with confidence,” said Walters, who’s a Rory McIllroy fan. “Being confident the first day is the key. A lot of it is mental as well.”
Walters was the only Emmaus golfer to qualify for states. Teammate, junior Kyan Delong finished T-21 while seniors Karson Krasley and Zach Heller both tied for 31st.
Only the top six boys will move onto states. Northampton’s Gavin Pychinka took top honors with 2-under 70, while Miller was second with a 1-over 73. Walters, Walsh and Stroudsburg’s Hunter Probst all finished tied for third.
“In the girls’ competition, Emmaus junior Alexis Teichman just missed out on qualifying for states as she finished fifth overall with a 20-over 92. Teichman shot a 47 on the front nine and 45 on the back.
“Alexis is a great story,” said Birns. “She played field hockey her whole life and just picked up a club in the last three months. She’s an athlete and she bombs her drives.
“She wasn’t so happy with her round and that’s the competitor in her. She played in the league tournament, the district qualifier and now districts and medaled.”
Teichman’s teammates, freshman Ella Bloszinsky and senior Maya Schutz finished seventh and ninth, respectively.
Nazareth had the top two place winners as Allie Tarreto finished first with a 10-over 82, while teammate Camryn Hoff was two shots back, 12-over 84. Southern Lehigh’s Lexi Miller finished third (14-over 86). Only the top three will move on to states.
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Photos courtesy of Emmaus golf
