Tamaqua's Sam Vinc, left, and Lourdes' Vivian Reiprish were crowned champions at Monday's Schuylkill League Golf Individual Championships at Schuylkill Country Club. (Photo by Leroy Boyer).

ORWIGSBURG — Sam Vinc has accumulated a bevy of golfing medals throughout his young career, from local and regional junior tournaments to the U.S. Kids Golf World Championships.

Monday he added another prestigious medal to his collection — Schuylkill League gold.

The Tamaqua freshman shot a 2-over-par 74 to win the boys’ title at the Schuylkill League Golf Individual Championships at the Schuylkill Country Club. His birdie on No. 18 gave him a two-stroke victory over defending champion Alan Evans of Schuylkill Haven, who shot a 76.

Vivian Reiprish claimed the girls’ crown, shooting a 14-over 86 to edge Minersville’s Emma Troutman by one stroke.

“It’s really exciting, because I’ve never done this before,” Vinc said.

Vinc used three straight birdies on Nos. 7, 8 and 9 to close out the front nine at an even-par 36 and was tied for the lead with Evans at the turn.

“I knew I was in the mix (after 9). I just had to keep battling,” Vinc said. “(My round) was very up and down. I pushed through it, came out with the win.”

Golfing in separate foursomes, the pair was still tied after 11 holes before Vinc carded a par on the par-3 12th while Evans shot double-bogey. Evans sliced the deficit to one with a par on No. 13 and both golfers shot a birdie 4 on the par-5 No. 14.

The key hole came at No. 16 when Vinc sank a long par putt to extend his lead to two strokes. Evans birdied the par-5 No. 17 but missed a birdie putt on No. 18.

Vinc carded a par on No. 17. On the par-4 No. 18, he hit his second shot within 10 feet of the cup and sank the putt for a birdie and the championship.

“I hit a bad 9-iron into the right bunker and ended up hitting the top of the bunker on my second shot,” Vinc said about his par on No. 16. “I had about a 15-foot breaker for par, ended up slipping it in.”

Blue Mountain’s Owen Crossen was third with a 6-over 78, while Schuylkill Haven’s Eli Barton nipped Blue Mountain’s Cole Fry in a playoff for fourth after both golfers shot 79.

Blue Mountain’s Dylan Knittle (81), Nativity’s Andy Smith (83), Pottsville’s Maxum DiRenzo (83) and Nativity’s Trey Keating (83) filled spots 6-9 while Marian freshman Carter Grant and Blue Mountain’s Evan Setlock tied for 10th with 84s.

Starting on No. 16, Reiprish opened her round by going 8-over par on her first seven holes then found her groove, shooting just 6-over the rest of the way. Her round featured a birdie on No. 8, five pars, nine bogeys and three double-bogeys.

“I was 4-over after the first three holes and I knew if I started to get on the greens in regulation I’d be fine,” Reiprish said. “I’m a pretty good putter.

“No. 8 was my best hole. I had a long birdie putt that I was able to make. It was such a great feeling.”

Troutman started one group back at No. 17 and played Reiprish pretty even throughout. Reiprish carded a bogey on No. 13 and a par on her last hole, No. 15, to pull out the one-stroke victory.

Two-time defending champion Delaney Walborn of Blue Mountain was third with a 92, while Schuylkill Haven’s Giuliana Hughes (98) and Minersville’s Lexi Sukeena (113) rounded out the top five.

It’s the second major win at the Schuylkill Country Club this season for Reiprish, who also won the girls’ crown at the Schuylkill County Amateur Golf Junior Championships in July.

“It’s really exciting,” Reiprish said. “I haven’t done this before, so this is something that I really wanted to do this year.”

With their top-five finishes, Vinc, Evans, Crossen, Barton and Fry earn berths in the District 11 Golf Championships set for Tuesday, Sept. 30, at the Steel Club in Bethlehem.  North Schuylkill’s Jude Maziekas has also punched his ticket to districts since he qualified for the PIAA Golf Championships last year.

Boys’ golfers who placed outside the top five but had an average of 85 or below during the regular season will compete in the District 11 Qualifying Tournament on Monday, Sept. 22, at the Northampton Country Club, Easton.

On the girls’ side, Troutman, Walborn and Hughes earned district berths for shooting under 110. Sukeena will compete in the district qualifying tournament.

The Schuylkill League golf season wraps up today with the Schuylkill League Golf Team Championships. Blue Mountain, Pottsville, Schuylkill Haven and Nativity will square off for the crown at 1:30 p.m. at Hidden Valley Golf Course, Friedensburg.

District 11 Qualifiers

BOYS: Sam Vinc, Alan Evans, Owen Crossen, Eli Barton, Cole Fry, Jude Maziekas (automatic)

GIRLS: Emma Troutman, Delaney Walborn, Giuliana Hughes