Despite all of her success in her first three years of high school golf, Emmaus senior Sam Fritzinger could not put a round together at regionals that warranted her a trip to the PIAA Golf Championships. It was the only notch on her belt that she was missing.

But after a strong showing at regionals following her third straight district championship, Fritzinger cracked that elusive state stage. And when she got there, she put together a performance that was right with the top female golfers in Pennsylvania.

Fritzinger shot a combined two-day score of 155. She fired a 77 in the first round and a 78 on the second day to place fifth at states. That finish awarded her the final medal given out among the 18 female competitors.

“Over the past few years I have played very bad at the regional level and just missed the cut to go to states,” Fritzinger said. “I was very happy to make it to states, and after that I changed my focus to playing well at states.

“With this being my senior year, I knew this was my last shot at doing what I have been working towards for the last four years. I knew I had the game to compete and I knew many of the girls there, so I just had to go out there and play to the best of my ability.”

A day after Fritzinger shot a 77 last Monday at Heritage Hills Golf Resort and Conference Center, the Hornet senior produced a similar outing to close out her final high school round. She recorded nine pars and two birdies on the last day of competition.

“I feel like my irons were the strongest part of my game in those two days,” Fritzinger said. “My putting, wedges and driver were mostly good, but they all had times where I hit some bad shots.”

Fritzinger, after recording a 41 on the first nine holes, rebounded by shooting a 37 on her second nine. That strong finish resulted in a score just two strokes behind fourth-place finisher Lauren Freyvogel of Pine Richland (153). Peters Townships’ Mia Kness won the Class 3A girls crown with a 144, followed by Conestoga’s Samantha Yao (146) and Central York’s Julianne Lee (149) in second and third, respectively.

“I would rate how I played as about a seven [out of 10],” Fritzinger said. “I struggled in the front nine both days, but I tried to manage my score because I played really well on the back nine. That was where I got strokes back.”

Fritzinger’s teammate Belle Keopraseut also qualified for states and had a successful showing. She shot an 88 on Day 1, followed by a round of 93 just 24 hours later to cement a 17th-place finish.

Eric Cichocki was the lone Emmaus male participant at states after playing well at regionals. He shot a 78 on the first day of competition and one stroke higher (79) to close out the tournament last Tuesday to finish in 14th place. Cichocki shot a 42 on the first nine holes of Day 2 and a 37 on the back nine, finishing with eight pars and three birdies.

Nazareth’s Kevin Scherr won the 3A championship with a two-day score of 144, five strokes better than the next golfer. His round of 69 on Day 1 of competition was the best round of any golfer over both days, and the next best round came in at a 73.

“Our team was very well represented with three of us going, and I’m proud that all three of us got there,” Fritzinger said. “Even though states is more individual, you still want to play well for your school as well as yourself.”

For Fritzinger, it was a solid way to end a season that includes gold in both leagues and districts, before she gets back on the course in preparation for her collegiate playing years.

“It was great to play with these people,” Fritzinger said. “I have played with most of them before in other tournaments, but it is always fun and challenging to compete against them.”