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Joe Parrini, Julianne Lee keep it going for Central York


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It might be a little early to be calling the Central York golf team a dynasty, but the Panthers are well on their way.

Shortly after winning gold at the YAIAA team tournament, Central’s Joe Parrini and Julianne Lee both won first-place medals in their respective individual tournament.

Parrini shot a 69 on the day, making him the only player in the league this season to collect two sub-70 scores. For Lee, it was her second consecutive gold medal in the individual tournament, and while the 73 she shot was a stroke above her regular season average, she continued to prove that she is the best female golfer in the league.

Both golfers will participate in Tuesday’s District 3 Team Tournament and will also compete in the District 3 Individual Tournament starting Friday.

Parrini competes with plenty of breathing room

On the way to his first-place finish, the Central York senior had as relaxing a tournament match as a golfer could ask for.

While all the groups on Monday had at least three players in them, Parrini faced off just against York Catholic’s Andrew Forjan after Zach Dixon from Eastern York was scratched for medical reasons.

“Andrew is one of my best friends, so being able to play with him and being able to play fast helped me, I think, to keep the upbeat rhythm going throughout the round,” Parrini said.

With less pressure on him, Parrini put together a streak of four straight birdies and while as competitive as ever, he understands his role with the Panthers.

“I just try to help everyone on the team,” he said. “I’m not as much of a leader on the team as I am a friend. That’s how I look at it and hopefully they see the same thing.”

Lee pleased, but hungry for more 

There is a very good chance Julianne Lee goes deep into the high school golf postseason, but she knows that she has to take her journey one step at a time.

Lee was pushed as hard Monday as she has been in her career, trailed closely by Susquehannock’s Kendal Abrams throughout the entire round. Late in the round the pair was tied at 3-over par, but Lee kept her composure and parred the final three holes to take home the gold.

While happy with her performance, Lee was focused on the upcoming District 3 Team Tournament.

When asked if she thinks the Panthers have a chance to come out on top, she responded, “I think we do, if all of us shoot a really low score I think we can win. All of us are really good players, we communicate really well, we just have a really good team overall.”

No medal for Hoffnagle, but solid finish

Spring Grove senior Luke Hoffnagle’s regular season ended with him increasing his score in the each of the final three matches. While he averaged a 76 during the regular season, he struggled at times with his putts and it was unclear how he would perform coming into the individual tournament.

While getting off to a slow start, Hoffnagle went even in his last 10 holes, including three birdies to force a three-player, one-hole playoff.

"When I was in the playoff I hit a good drive and hit a good second shot into the green,” he said. “Then I guess I had a severe uphill putt and just left it 6-feet short and missed that one.”

While missing out on the bronze medal, Hoffnagle advanced to the District 3 Tournament and will be joined by fellow Spring Grove golfer Mason Staub.

“That makes it even better just to have someone push you and I can push him to go further towards the state tournament,” Hoffnagle said.

Abrams’ improvements bring her near top

If there was one player on the girls' side who challenged Central’s Julianne Lee on Monday it was Kendel Abrams from Susquehannock.

Abrams, who shot a 75, took home silver in the individual tournament and kept up with her opponent for the entire round thanks to some key situational shots. After staying even with Lee through the first seven holes of the back nine, Abrams strung together back-to-back birdies on the 11th and 12th holes to pull ahead.

“I would say No. 12 was a good hole,” Abrams said. “I always take a drive on that hole, it’s a short hole and I never want to let up on it. Didn’t have the best shot, but it still went the distance I was expecting it to.”

While it had the distance, the ball landed in the front of the bunker, about 60 yards from the hole. Abrams attacked with her sand wedge, just missing the cup, but tapped the ball in to birdie the hole.

A hard-fought bronze for Greenplate

Dallastown’s Evan Greenplate averaged a 75 during the regular season and showed his consistency by matching that score on Monday.

With that consistency comes confidence, which Greenplate used to reach the podium.

“I’ve been playing pretty well, I’m hitting it better,” he said. “Missed two short ones today, that hurt me, but other than that I’d say I’m playing pretty solid right now.”

One of the short putts he missed was in the bronze medal playoff between him, Hoffnagle and Littlestown’s Devin Peart. Greenplate had a booming shot off the tee and followed it up with a three-quarters wedge shot to get onto the green.

“Devin just made a really good putt to put the pressure on, I just missed it on the low side,” he said.

Despite missing the putt, Greenplate edged out Hoffnagle to place third and move on to the District 3 Tournament.

YAIAA Individual Golf Top Finishers 
AAA Boys
1. Joe Parrini 69, Central York; 2. Evan Greenplate, 75, Dallastown; 3. Luke Hoffnagle, 75, Spring Grove; 4. Justin Gruver, 76, New Oxford; 5. Matthew Bricker, 76, Central York
AA Boys
1. Devin Peart (Ind.), 75 Littlestown; 2. Andrew Forjan, 79, York Catholic; 3. Dillon Hippensteel, 80, York Catholic; 4. Jon Giambalv, 84, York Catholic; 5. Ty Shuchart, 87, Bermudian Springs
Girls
1. Julianne Lee (AAA), 73, Central York; 2. Kendel Abrams (AAA), 75, Susquehannock; 3. Victoria Downey (AAA), 84, New Oxford; 4. Cailey Roman (AAA), 91, Central York; 5. Alexandra Lowder (AA), 92, Eastern York

IF YOU GO

What: District 3 Individual Golf Tournament

When: Friday, Oct. 7 and Saturday Oct. 8 at 10 a.m

Where: Briarwood Golf Club