Golf: Conestoga’s Yao captures East Regional golf title

Tom Nash Posted On October 17, 2016

FLEETWOOD >> With five players were vying for the final three spots to earn a berth at next week’s PIAA Championships, Conestoga’s Samantha Yao was strolling casually on the cartpath as she watched the players come down the No. 18 fairway. My, the difference a year can make. A year after she missed the cut as a result of a one-hole playoff, Yao captured the PIAA-AAA East Region Championship at Golden Oaks Golf Club title Monday with a 1-under 71.

“Last year was really tough,” she said. “I was so close, but just missed going to states. It definitely wasn’t the way I wanted to end my season.”

Yao posted six birdies and five bogeys en route to finishing four strokes better than the rest of the field Monday. She opened her round with a pair of birdies on the first two holes, then closed out the frontside with birdies on Nos. 8 and 9 to put her at 2-under.

Radnor’s Gabby Kim finished tied with Emmaus’ Samantha Fritzinger and Manheim Township’s Ellen Wagner for second place at 3-over 75. Just a few days after capturing the District One title at Turtle Creek, Yao brought with her a similar approach to Golden Oaks. Hardly a risk-taker, Yao trusted her short game throughout, flirting with about 30 putts for her round.

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