Mara Dubacher is hoping the fourth time is a charm.
The Moravian Academy senior, a four-time District 11 Class 2A champion and four-time top-2 finisher in the Colonial League, shoots this week for her first PIAA Golf Championships medal.
The 2024 ninth-place finisher tees it up Monday and Tuesday at Penn State University’s White Course, her preferred layout of the two.
“It plays more to my game,” Dubacher said of the White versus the Blue course. “It’s shorter than Steel Club [site of the District 11 championships] and there is less undulation in the greens, so I can make adjustments in my game plan. It’s going to fun, just going with no expectations and playing my game.”
Dubacher leads a group of 18 District 11 golfers competing at the state tournament, which is a 36-hole event over two days.
Class 2A boys and girls will play the White course both days; 3A boys and girls play the Blue layout.
Schuylkill Haven’s Alan Evans (2A boys), Nazareth’s Holden Sparks (3A boys) and Emmaus’ Alexis Teichman (3A girls) are the district champions leading the pack.
Dubacher is one of only four senior state qualifiers. Emmaus’ Kyan DeLong (3A boys) and Teichman plus Blue Mountain’s Delaney Walborn (3A girls) are the others.
Moravian Academy’s Katherine Anthony is the district’s lone freshman qualifier.
Dubacher remembers her freshman season. Her game has come a long way since then.
“I’m a lot better in all aspects,” she said. “Mentally, I’m a lot more stable when I hit bad shots, have bad holes. I know how to come back from that. As a freshman, I was a little immature around the greens and with all shots. My course management has gotten a lot better.”
Dubacher, who is considering Michigan and Notre Dame among other colleges, plans to study finance. For these two days, however, she’d love to have her diligence on the golf course pay off with a fitting ending to her high school career.
Nazareth’s Sparks is not a fan of either Penn State course but doesn’t believe that will affect his performance.
“If I just keep the same attitude,” the sophomore said, “it should be pretty good. I’m not a big fan of the greens there, but if I go out there and play my game I know I could shoot a good score.”
Senior writer Tom Housenick can be reached at thousenick@mcall.com
PIAA Golf Championships
Monday-Tuesday at Penn State’s Blue and White courses
Monday’s local tee times (boys and girls)
CLASS 2A
No. 1 tee
9:20 a.m.: Alan Evans, Schuylkill Haven
9:50: Anthony Albano, Saucon Valley
10:20: Renzo Ochotorena, Saucon Valley
10:50: Mara Dubacher, Moravian Academy
11:10: Katherine Anthony, Moravian Academy
No. 10 tee
9:10: Jared Grammes, Palmerton
9:20: Jude Maziekas, North Schuylkill
9:30: Sam Vinc, Tamaqua
10:40: Avri Chandler, Northwestern Lehigh
CLASS 3A
No. 1 tee
9:20: Holden Sparks, Nazareth
9:40: Derek Moyer, Northampton
10: Evan Walters, Emmaus
10:10: Dane Mohap, Nazareth
10:20: Beau Thomas, Bangor
10:40: Alexis Teichman, Emmaus
11: Lexi Miller, Southern Lehigh
No. 10 tee
9: Kyan DeLong, Emmaus
10:30: Delaney Walborn, Blue Mountain
