MOWRY — When it comes to athletics, golf is everything to Pottsville’s Rachel Brahler.
It’s the only high school sport she plays and, not surprisingly, the one she puts all of her time into.
The work has paid off. Brahler is now a champion after shooting an 83 to win the Schuylkill League Individual Girls’ Golf Championship by eight strokes Friday at Rolling Meadows Golf Course.
It’s the first individual league title for Brahler, who was the runner-up to North Schuylkill’s Justine Paul in 2013, with a 92 to Paul’s 83 at Hidden Valley Golf Course.
“It means a lot to win it,” Brahler said. “I’ve been working really hard. I am really dedicated to this game. I put a lot of time in. This is the only sport I play so I want to make it really good.”
Lourdes freshman Selina Albert finished second with a 91, while Marian’s Ashley Fannick (93) took third. Pine Grove’s Kamryn Felty beat Tamaqua’s Paige Demetriades in a one-hole playoff to take fourth. Both shot 94s in regulation.
Felty and Steph Kemmerling (110) combined to lift the Cardinals to the team title, while Blue Mountain’s Kelly Bruce (98) and Madison Powell (116) were second with a 214.
Brahler came into the championship, which was postponed
Thursday and moved to Friday, as the favorite. She scored in four Crimson Tide matches during the regular season, including a 76 at Rolling Meadows in a match against North Schuylkill on Sept. 4, a 310-317 Pottsville win.
Brahler was also the Crimson Tide’s medalist Wednesday with a 78 at Blue Mountain Golf Course as Pottsville had a 329 to win the Schuylkill League team championship for the first time since 1989.
Brahler, however, thought she could have played better.
“There was a lot of pressure on me,” she said. “I didn’t play the best I could. I am not really happy with the way I played, but it was enough to win.”
As she was Wednesday, Brahler was consistent and didn’t have any major blow-up holes on the 4,085-yard layout that features plenty of elevation changes. Her highest score was a 6 as she finished with seven pars and six bogeys.
Brahler started at No. 2 and opened with back-to-back bogeys before shooting par on the next three holes. She was 4-over on her first eight holes, while Albert was 10-over through eight.
Brahler built her lead from there. She finished with a 40 on the front and 43 on the back, while Albert went 46-45.
The part of her game Brahler was happy with the most Friday was her short-range pitch shots. An example came at No. 13, as Brahler’s 40-yard pitch from the left of the elevated green hit the flag stick and rolled about 4 feet away. She missed the putt short and settled for a par.
“I like the short game better,” said Brahler, who spends about 50 percent of her practice time working on the short game. “It is less effort and more challenging. I think it is more fun to see how close you can get to the hole.”
Next up for Brahler is the District 11 Championships on Monday, Oct. 6, at Shawnee Inn and Country Club in Shawnee on Delaware. In addition to competing for Pottsville in the District 11 Class AAA team competition, Brahler will also attempt to finish in the top 3 at districts and qualify for the PIAA East Regional Tournament on Tuesday, Oct. 14, at Golden Oaks Golf Club in Fleetwood.
“Keeping my drives more consistent and putting,” Brahler said on what she will work on over the next few days to prepare for districts. “Getting the long putts into a three-foot circle to make them two-putts. All my shots. Getting my second shot onto the green.”
Leaderboard
Schuylkill League
Individual Girls’ Golf Championship
At Rolling Meadows Golf Course, Mowry
Yardage: 4,085; Par 69
Friday’s results
Rachel Brahler, Pottsville 83
Selina Albert, Lourdes 91
Ashley Fannick, Marian 93
*Kamryn Felty, Pine Grove 94
Paige Demetriades, Tamaqua 94
Kelly Bruce, Blue Mountain 98
Jade Walter, Mahanoy Area 104
Steph Kemmerling, Pine Grove 110
Nikki Harris, North Schuylkill 115
Madison Powell, Blue Mountain 116
Haley Haggerty, Lehighton 120
Samantha DeSpirito, Weatherly 125
Kaitie Blazusky, Marian 127
Lilly Snyder, Jim Thorpe 135
Sophie Monboussin, Jim Thorpe 151
* Won on first hole of sudden-death playoff
Team standings
Pine Grove 204
Blue Mountain 214
Marian 220
Jim Thorpe 286