Perkiomen Valley’s Ayush Patel prevails in playoff for PAC individual golf championship

by dennis weller

LIMERICK >> Experience playing in tough weather conditions paid off for Ayush Patel in Tuesday’s Pioneer Athletic Conference boys individual golf championship. The Perkiomen Valley senior battled the mist, rain and wind well enough to record a 76 at Turtle Creek Golf Course, good for a three-way tie for first place after the regulation 18 holes.

Then he scored a birdie on the first extra hole to beat out Methacton’s Matthew Rieger and Spring-Ford’s Lucas Kozak for the title. Those three are among the 19 PAC golfers to qualify for the District 1 Tournament, coming up on October 9 and 10 back at Turtle Creek.

“I’ve played enough in these conditions,” said Patel, who qualified for district play for the third straight year. “I was just looking to put together a good round today. It was a pleasure to play with those two (in the playoff). It was a great challenge.”

And he was able to put together a good overall round on the par-72, 6,300-yard course, despite the conditions.

“I just hit my spots today … limited my misses,” he said. “I hit it off the tee well. It really came down to putts. I was happy to come through pretty big.”

The Pioneer Athletic Conference qualified 19 golfers for next week's District 1 Championships. (Courtesy PAC athletics) — The Pioneer Athletic Conference qualified 19 golfers for next week’s District 1 Championships. (Courtesy PAC athletics)

The three leaders came in just one stroke ahead of Spring-Ford’s Abe McNelly and Charlie Ferrise and Perk Valley’s Jacob Rotay. Anybody shooting a score of 86 or better made the district-qualifying cut.

Eight different schools had at least one district qualifier, led by Spring-Ford with four and Perk Valley, Boyertown and Owen J. Roberts with three apiece.

Patel knew coming in that the conditions would be less than ideal.

“It was misty early in the round, a little windy,” he said. “I just knew the conditions would be pretty tough. I was just scrambling through the tough conditions.”

Rieger shot a par on the playoff hole and Kozak had a bogey. This was the first playoff for first since a two-way tie in 2012. Ties for the last few district spots are more the rule than the exception and Patel was involved in one of them as a sophomore, successfully earning a district berth in a four-way playoff for the final three spots. Last year, he finished in a three-way tie for 16th place.

“As a sophomore, I just made the cut (for districts),” he said. “As a junior, I made the cut. Today, I took it home.”

Last season, no PAC golfers made it past district play. In fact, none even made the cut to advance to the second day. And that’s something Patel and the rest of the PAC qualifiers would like to change this time.

“We had good talent (last year),” Patel said. “We still do. Hopefully, we can send as many guys as possible to states (October 16-18 at State College). I want to make the cut at districts. I want to make it to states. That’s the main goal this year.”

Patel plays golf pretty much year round. He is a member at Spring-Ford Country Club and credits his swing coach Rich Steinmetz for helping him improve his game.

Pioneer Athletic Conference Golf Individual Championship

At Turtle Creek Golf Course (par 72)

Top 19 qualify for District 1 tournament

1, *Ayush Patel, Perkiomen Valley 76

1. Matthew Rieger, Methacton 76

1. Lucas Kozak, Spring-Ford 76

4. Jacob Rotay, Perkiomen Valley 77

4. Abe McNelly, Spring-Ford 77

4.Charlie Ferrise, Spring-Ford 77

7. Kyle Reigner, Boyertown 80

7. Ryan McQuarrie, Pope John Paul II 80

9. Chase Dillman, Boyertown 81