MIKE GROSS | Sports WriterAndrew Bilson of Manheim Township shot a three-under 69 in the first round of the PIAA golf championships Monday at Penn State University’s Blue Course.
On an excellent day of scoring, especially among the Class AAA boys’ field, Bilson, a senior, is tied for fifth place heading into Tuesday’s final round.
“Overall, pretty consistent and solid,’’ Bilson said by telephone. “Can't really complain. But everybody else was taking it pretty low.’’
In boys’ AAA, 16 players shot under par in round one.
Wes Lorish of Plum and Aidan Farkas of St. Joseph’s Prep are tied for the lead with six-under 66s. Lorish made seven birdies and an eagle, and Farkas made six birds and an eagle, touring the back nine in 31.
Max Wager of State College and Seiji Sako of Lower Merion are tied for third, at 68. Sako was six under with five holes remaining, and Wager shot 31 on the back nine.
The back nine, evidently, was especially receptive to scoring. Bilson started on that nine and, “really didn’t hit a bad shot.’’
He was two under headed to the par-five 18th (his ninth), where he hit a 7-iron second to within eight feet, rolled in the eagle putt and found himself, at the time, four under par and on top of the leaderboard.
Bilson acknowledged a history of faster starts than finishes. In the District Three tournament a year ago, he shot one under the first round, six over the second. At states, he shot even in round one, 82 in round two.
“Second rounds have just killed me,’’ he said. “I stayed at the range a little bit today, hit some extra putts. I’m looking forward to tomorrow and I just want to break that trend.’’
In girls’ AAA, Warwick junior Elle Overly shot 76 on the Blue Course to tie for eighth. Overly played a four-hole stretch on the front nine four over par, but steadied to play the back side even par.
She’s probably playing for second place, after a wild 67 by Rhianna Gooneratne of Plymouth-Whitemarsh, who leads by five shots.
Gooneratne made five birdies in a row at one point, and finished with seven birdies and an eagle.
Nick Werner of Wyoming Seminary leads Boys’ AA with a 68 on Penn State’s White Course. Werner is a two-time District Two champ and finished fifth in states a year ago.
Logan Francis, an Annville-Cleona sophomore, shot 75 Friday and is tied for 19th in AA. Another shot back, tied for 25th at 76, are Reagan Flynn of A-C, the District Three champion, and Cole Stoltzfus of Pequea Valley.
Defending state champion Dylan Ramsey of Cedar Crest shot 76 and is tied for 38th in AAA. Lancaster-Lebanon League champion Jesse Shue of Penn Manor was two under par through nine holes, but settled for a 78, tied for 51st.
Piper Smith of Manheim Township is tied for 16th in girls’ AAA after a 79. Also for Township’s girls’ team, which will compete for the state team title Wednesday, Paisley Kappesser shot 83 (tied for 24th) and Sonia Dumasia 89 (T31st).
The lone L-L qualifier in girls’ AA, Savannah Miller of Lancaster Catholic, shot 97 and is tied for 34th.
Final round tee times begin Tuesday at 8:30 a.m., with leaders playing last. The final groups will begin play at about 11:30 a.m.
