Ephrata Sends Three Girls to Districts

Ephrata High School will once again be well-represented at next week’s District Three Girls Golf Championships after three EHS girls qualified at the L-L League Tournament Tuesday at Honeybrook Golf Club.

Junior Megan Esterbrook led the way for Ephrata, finishing in a tie with CV’s Samara Yurchak for third place overall with a round of 84. Lacey Bensing, who placed second a year ago behind teammate Lauren Smith, finished with an 86 to place fifth. and Paige Hammaker will be making her second trip to Districts following a round of 111.
 

"The girls all played pretty well," Ephrata Coach Ed Gambler said late Tuesday.

Esterbrook was especially good after placing sixth at leagues a year ago and enjoying a real nice regular season which included being a medalist at the section match held at Iron Valley recently.

"Her work ethic is just fantastic, Gambler said. "It’s paying off. She’s been very steady and probably her biggest moment this year was being medalist at Iron Valley. That made a huge impression on all the coaches in the section, and it just carried through today. She had a couple tough stretches out there but she just hangs in. She has a postive attitude and just keeps fighting right to the end. It paid off for her with her third-place finish."

Bensing endured some tough stretches Tuesday on a wet course with "extremely tough" rough but was able to pull through and poost a solid score as well.

"She’s a real steady performer," Gambler said. "She has a real mature approach to the game. She manages her game real well."

And Hammaker has shown steady progress throughout the season and because of it punched her ticket to Districts once again.

"Paige just continues to improve," Gambler said. "She’s worked to improve every year and has knocked a lot of strokes off her game. She just has a great attitude. She keeps smiling and keeps working. She had a very tough front nine and really turned it around on the back and was 11 strokes better on the back. It looked tough after that front nine but for her to be 11 strokes better on the back took some guts."

Mary Beth Palic of Manheim Township captured the overall girls title with an even par round of 70. Haley Goodling of Manheim Central was a distant second, six shots off the pace with a 76.

The District Three Girls Tournament will get underway next Thursday and Saturday at Briarwood West in York.