COLLEGE PARK — Eight Cecil County golfers representing four different schools competed at the Class 2A/1A State Golf Championships at the University of Maryland Golf Course in College Park this week.
North East’s Evan Smith led the way for Cecil County. Smith finished tied with River Hill’s Justin Zhao for fourth overall in the Class 2A/1A boys’ individual championship with a two day total of 150. Smith and Zhao finished just four strokes behind Class 2A/1A champion Michael Hoy from Manchester Valley.
After shooting an 8-over 79 on day one that left him in 18th overall going into day two, Smith shot an even par 71 on day two Wednesday to climb into the top five.
Rising Sun’s Joel Vogt also made the cut for day two and competed in the second round Wednesday. Vogt finished 10th overall in the Class 2A/1A boys’ individual championship with a two day total of 155. Vogt shot a 4-over 75 on day one and a 9-over 80 on day two.
North East’s qualified team of Smith, Reid Harbert, Cody Shuler and Treyvis Phillips also competed during round one Tuesday and finished eighth out of 18 Class 2A/1A teams with a combined score of 345. The eighth place result marks the best team finish in school history for North East’s golf program.
Smith’s 79 on day one led the way for the North East. Harbert and Shuler both shot an 88 and Phillips shot a 90. North East missed the cut to qualify for round two on Wednesday by just one stroke.
Elkton’s Sam Speakman, Bohemia Manor’s Colin Klair and Rising Sun’s Caitlyn Onizuk also competed Tuesday after qualifying for the state tournament as individuals.
Speakman, who was the first Elkton golfer to qualify for states in over a decade, shot a 92 on day one.
Onizuk was the lone female golfer representing Cecil County.