The Whitehall golf season ended last week without a Zephyr making it through the qualifying round of the District XI tournament.

They posted a 1-12 record this year, but that mark belies the steady improvement they were able to make, with each golfer getting appreciably better as their last round in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference Golf Tournament attests.

Before the D-11 qualifier, which was held on Oct. 5, the Zephs competed in the EPC tourney on Oct. 1 at Woodstone Golf Club.

The team title was won by Nazareth who avenged a regular season loss to Emmaus to claim the EPC crown. Emmaus won the regular season title, but Nazareth hoisted the trophy after posting a 326-333 victory. Whitehall finished 15th with a 439.

Individually, Brian Whelan of Pocono Mountain East took the top spot shooting a 76, while Whitehall’s Patrick Skinner carded a 98, the lowest round for the Zephs at the tourney. That was followed by Ben Antonchak who shot a 102, while Chase Hutterer posted a 119, and Noah Zahradnik and Tyler Ringenberger both finished their rounds with a 121.

Head coach John Conrad said that it was Skinner’s and Ringenberger’s first time competing in the league tournament, and they both managed to play well against their conference counterparts.

Additionally, Antonchak, Hutterer and Zahradnick, who competed last season, were each able to shave strokes off last year’s tourney appearance, with Antonchak finishing 24 strokes better this year. Those three combined to better their scores by 41 strokes.

“There’s definitely improvement from last year,” said Conrad.

Conrad believes this team came make strides and it’s a matter of time before they start inching up the leader board in the postseason tourneys.

“I think this group has the potential to improve,” said Conrad.

He believes they have the ability to drop their scores even further, and with another year under their belts, they should be ready to make that climb.

In the district tournament held at Locust Valley Golf Club, Nazareth’s Nick Hinkle led the pack with a 77. The cutoff mark was 90, with Skinner carding a 97 to close out the year for the Zephs.

The regular season ended with a loss to Tamaqua High School. Conrad said that Colonial League rules are a bit different from the EPC’s, taking the aggregate of the first six scores. That formula helped Tamaqua eek out a 387-378 victory.

After their first three golfers held the lead by a stroke over the Blue Raiders, he thought they had another victory.

Conrad said it’s still going to be a process heading in the right direction, but he believes that the more students who can be introduced to the game of golf at Whitehall, the chances for success will be greatly enhanced.