Haven senior wins Schuylkill County Junior Golf title

Schuylkill Haven’s Talan Spittler shot an even-par 69 to capture the overall championship of the 2024 Schuylkill County Junior Golf Championship Tournament held Tuesday at White Birch Golf Course, Barnesville.

Spittler, who helped Schuylkill Haven capture the Schuylkill League title and qualified for states last season, won his first county junior title and placed first in the High School Boys’ Division by two strokes over North Schuylkill junior Jude Maziekas, who carded a 71.

Tamaqua eighth-grader Sam Vinc, who played up in the High School Division, was third with a 72, followed by Blue Mountain senior Cole Yelinek (74), Schuylkill Haven sophomore Alan Evans (74), Pottsville junior Maxum Direnzo (76) and Tamaqua senior Noah Steigerwalt (76).

Lourdes sophomore Vivian Reiprish carded an 81 to win the High School Girls’ Division, with Blue Mountain junior Delaney Walborn (87) placing second and Nativity senior Carleigh Palmieri (90) taking third.

Blue Mountain fifth-grader Austin Marrongelle took top honors in the nine-hole junior high boys’ tournament, shooting a 42. Weatherly sixth-grader Jaren Hinkle was second with a 58 while Pottsville third-grader Bryce Freed was third with a 65

A total of 49 golfers competed in the event, which was held at White Birch for the first time.

FIRST PHOTO: Division winners at Tuesday’s Schuylkill County Junior Golf Championships at White Birch Golf Course, Barnesville, were, from left: Lourdes’ Vivian Reiprish, girls’ champion; Schuylkill Haven’s Talan Spittler, overall champion and boys’ HS winner; and Austin Marrongelle, junior high boys’ champion.

SECOND PHOTO: Schuylkill Haven senior Talan Spittler, center, is flanked by coaches Ed Andruscavage, left, and Aaron Schock, right, after winning Tuesday’s Schuylkill County Junior Golf Championship at White Birch Golf Course, Barnesville.