Mahanoy Area's Connor Bowman, shown golfing Sept. 9, 2025, at White Birch Golf Course (Photo by Kelly Wiley)

EASTON — Five Schuylkill League golfers punched their ticket to next week’s District 11 Golf Championships by excelling in Monday’s qualifying tournament at the Northampton Country Club.

Blue Mountain’s Dylan Knittle, Mahanoy Area’s Connor Bowman and the Nativity trio of Ryan Grabowski, Stephen Karinch and Trey Keating each placed in the top 50 percent of their respective brackets to earn a spot in the district field.

That group will be joined by the Schuylkill League’s automatic qualifiers — Tamaqua’s Sam Vinc; North Schuylkill’s Jude Maziekas; Minersville’s Emma Troutman; Alan Evans, Eli Barton and Giuliana Hughes of Schuylkill Haven; and Owen Crossen, Cole Fry and Delaney Walborn of Blue Mountain — in the District 11 Golf Championships scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 30, at the Steel Club, Hellertown.

Bowman tied for third in the Class AA boys’ qualifier, shooting a 13-over-par 85. Bowman played consistent golf and avoided the major blowup hole, as his round included seven pars, nine bogeys and two double-bogeys.

Notre Dame-Green Pond’s Simon Weed paced the 35-golfer AA field with a 7-over 79, while Palmerton’s Joey Solt was second at 83.

Grabowski tied for seventh with Moravian Academy’s Nate Mette with a 15-over 87. Karinch and Keating were among five golfers who tied for 13th with a 17-over 89 and grabbed the last qualifying spots.

Missing the cut in Class AA were Marian’s Carter Grant (91), Minersville’s Garrett Sukeena (92), North Schuylkill’s Jace Jackson (93), Mahanoy Area’s Haden Kechula (94), Marian’s Sam Farrone (96), Schuylkill Haven’s Chase Maley (100), Pine Grove’s Austin Frantz (101), Marian’s Brayden Grant (101) and Marian’s Collin Yurkanin (106).

Also missing the cut in Class AA were two Schuylkill League girls’ golfers: Panther Valley’s Callie Kosciolek (120) and Ava Alabovitz (141). The girls’ golfers had to shoot 110 or below to qualify for districts.

In Class 3A, Knittle shot a 10-over 82 to finish tied for 17th. Like Bowman, Knittle was consistent, carding 10 pars, six bogeys and two double-bogeys.

Emmaus’ Kyan DeLong was tops in the Class 3A field with a 2-over 74, while Bethlehem Liberty’s Andrew Erfle and Parkland’s Carter Willis tied for second at 4-over 76.

Counting ties, the top 31 of the 59 Class 3A golfers made the cut, which ended up being 85. Blue Mountain’s Evan Setlock and Josh Lesak just missed, each carding a 14-over 86. Blue Mountain’s Braeden Welsh and Pottsville’s Maxum DiRenzo also missed the cut, each shooting 94.

In addition to the 14 Schuylkill League golfers that will compete at the individual district championships Sept. 30, Schuylkill League champion Blue Mountain, Schuylkill Haven and Nativity will compete in the District 11 Golf Team Championships at the same time.

Haven and Nativity will join Notre Dame-Green Pond and Moravian Academy in Class AA, while Blue Mountain will face Nazareth, Southern Lehigh and Emmaus in Class 3A.

District 11 Qualifying Tournament

At Northampton Country Club, Easton

Monday’s scores