In previous years the District 11 golf tournament was 27 holes. This year officials decided to decrease the length to a standard 18-hole round. However, one round wasn't enough to find a District 11 Class AAA champion.

After 18 holes over two days, Parkland's Chad Hess carded a final score of 75. Emmaus' Grant Schumaker also finished with a 75.

A sudden-death playoff was held between Hess and Schumaker to decide the champion, starting on the 12th hole at Blue Ridge Country Club in Palmerton.

Hess expressed his feelings of a playoff atmosphere in golf.

"I like this atmosphere," he said. "It shows me what type of player I am in tough situations."

Hess and Schumaker both sunk birdie putts on the tenth. Hess's was a six-footer while Schumaker had a two-foot tap-in after a great chip.

They went to the twelfth hole, where both players hit great drives of nearly identical distance. Hess's approach shot faded to the right rough about 20 yards short of the green while Schumaker landed his about 10 yards short of the putting surface in the fairway. After both players hit their wedge shots, Hess stared down a 15-footer for par and Schumaker lined up a 10-footer for his par. Hess played first and rolled his putt to the left of the hole, which left the door open for Schumaker. The Hornet senior drained his putt and claimed the District 11 AAA Championship.

Hess, who won this year's Lehigh Valley Conference title, talked about round after receiving his silver medal.

"I didn't play awful," he said. "I had a stretch of a few bad holes, but ultimately I had a sufficient score for what my goal was."

The tournament started on Monday morning and was scheduled to finish that daybut play was suspended because of heavy rain. Hess completed 11 holes before the posponement. He teed of the 12th Tuesday morning and started strong by getting a birdie. He dropped a shot on 14 after an errant tee shot that made it difficult to save par. Pars the rest of the way left Hess with a final score of 75.

"[Tuesday] I did exactly what I wanted to do go even par at worst," he said. "I missed some putts, but I can't be upset with how I finished."

Hess's second place finish qualifies him for the PIAA East Regional Tournament on Tuesday at Golden Oaks Golf Club in Fleetwood. Hess played in last year's regional tournament and shot 80, failing to qualify for the state tournament.

He will be the lone Trojan making the trip to Fleetwood as Adam Sutovich tied for ninth st districts with a round of 82. Parkland's Becca Davis finished sixth in the ladies district tournament, shooting 99.

Hess, who will play college golf at Old Dominion, was disappointed after the playoff, but still credited his opponent for playing well.

"I made a birdie on the first [playoff] hole," he said. "Then I moved on to the next hole and you know it was just the way it ended up today. Grant played great the entire tournament. This has really been a great summer for him. Some days you have it and some days you don't."

Hess nearly had it at districts, but he is aiming to get it all at regionals next week.