PIAA GOLF: Local golfers savor state experience

Oct. 18—STATE COLLEGE — There were no medals to wear, trophies to hoist or championship placards to pose with.

For the four Schuylkill League golfers competing at this week's PIAA Golf Championships on the White Course at Penn State University, it was all about the experience.

Schuylkill Haven's Tyler Barton and Talan Spittler, Panther Valley's Drew Kokinda and Blue Mountain's Marla Freiwald each finished well down the leaderboard in their respective fields in the two-day tournament Monday and Tuesday.

Barton (79-87—166) and Spittler (83-83—166) tied for 59th in the 72-golfer Class AA boys' field, while Kokinda (86-86—172) placed 71st. Freiwald shot a two-day total of 93-94—187 to place 31st in the 36-golfer Class AA girls' field.

Wyoming Seminary's Nick Werner won the boys' AA title with a 68-70—138, while North East's Anna Swan was the girls' Class AA winner with a 73-70—143.

"Competing in states is one of the things I look forward to the most," Barton said. "I love the environment and the course. I always have fun there and it's always a test of your skill."

Barton, a senior, was competing at states for the second straight season. Spittler, a junior, said having a teammate to go with him and guide him through things was a big help.

The two were key figures in Schuylkill Haven's run to the program's first-ever Schuylkill League team title.

"The coaches and Tyler both said that it is madness when we get to the course in the morning, but it was nothing like I expected," said Spittler, who shot 83 both days of the tournament. "There were kids everywhere and it was madness trying to get on the range and get to your first hole.

"All in all, once you got to the first hole it was so quiet and peaceful and it was such a good time even though I didn't play the best."

Barton had the best score of any local competitor after the first round, and was just 3-over for the day after recording eight pars, a bogey and a double bogey through his first 10 holes. A triple-bogey 7 on the par-4 No. 2 started a downward spiral in which he shot 9-over on the final six holes to finish with an 87.

"I played well the first day, my putting was good and my short game was on fire," Barton said. "I started the second day just as well. I was playing really well, the putting was good, irons were on and the driver was working. I hit the back nine and I struggled off the tee, and it killed me score wise."

Kokinda, who carded a 79 to win the District 11 Class AA championship, said his driving wasn't bad, it was his putting that killed him.

Kokinda was hampered by a pair of 8s in Monday's first round, although he birdied the par-5 No. 6. He shot identical 43-43—86 on both days of the tournament.

"It was a great experience overall," said the Panther Valley three-sport athlete. "I got to meet a lot of great golfers while I was there and got to learn how they managed themselves around a course by just watching them play.

"I was striking the ball very well from tee to green. I was hitting a lot of fairways and greens in regulations, but I struggled on the greens. I had a lot of short putts missed, along with some 3 putts."

For Freiwald, competing at the state golf championships came just four months after she pitched Blue Mountain to the PIAA Class 3A softball state championship a few miles away at the Nittany Lion Softball Park.

The District 11 Class AA runner-up shot a 94 the first round and a 93 the second round. Part of Tuesday's round was an eight-hole stretch where she had four pars and four bogeys.

"I am so grateful that I was able to compete with so many fantastic golfers across the state," Freiwald said. "I know a lot of people would love to have the opportunity to play in this tournament and I am so fortunate to have experienced this."

The state tournament marked the final high school golf competition for Barton, Kokinda and Freiwald, while Spittler returns for another shot next season.

"I think next year is going to be a lot better," Spittler said. "This will help me in many ways with my game, knowing what I need to work on to give myself a shot next year and it will get rid of the first-time jitters."

Added Barton: "It is a really high honor. All I wanted to do was make it to states for my last year and I did that, and it makes me happy knowing for my last match I went to states."

Contact the writer: Lboyer@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6026; @pubsportsboss