Harford County's top Class 3A and Class 4A qualified golfers took their swings, chips and putts to College Park on Monday to compete in the 2016 Maryland State Golf Tournament semifinals.
The state's larger schools competed on the tourney's first day at the University of Maryland-College Park Golf Course. The state's smaller schools will compete Tuesday with the best scoring golfers, both as individuals and teams, playing in Wednesday's state final round. Play begins at 9 a.m. both days.
In Monday's round, Aberdeen senior Mitchell Hardin shot 80, the best score shot by any Harford player. Hardin's round was nine strokes off the leading score of 71, shot by Nick Roberson of Bethesda-Chevy Chase.
Aberdeen was qualified to play as a team, and other Eagles contributing to the 346 team score were Hunter Schiesser, 87; David Fulp, 91; and Audrey Moon, 88. Moon's round was 13 strokes off the pace of the 75, shot by both Lena Capoccia of Churchill and Jackie Cherry of Howard.
Harford also had two other golfers play, who were qualified as individuals. North Harford's Jake Nemeth shot 85 and Bel Air's Evan Ripple shot 98.
Aberdeen's team score of 346 was not low enough to advance. Churchill led the way with 318, followed by Northern, 323; Sherwood, 330; and Walt Whitman, 334.
Tuesday's players
In the 1A and 2A semifinals, three Harford teams will be in competition. Fallston's four players are Dylan Wolf, Josh Sacker, Everett Cox and Dayton Ogrysko. Harford Tech's four players are Loy Clements, Ryan Shuck, Josh Kopeck and Adam Haviland.
Patterson Mill is also qualified and its four players are Sean Powers, Alec Michaels, Michael Montgomery and Paula Moon.
Perryville's Jordyn Pollitt is playing as an individual. Elkton's Genesis Diaz, who was the lowest scoring female player from the district tourney, also is in Tuesday's field.