A ONE-STROKE VICTORY

Centennial’s Chris Wellde edged Glenelg’s Zack Berry by one stroke to win the Howard County boys’ golf title, and Mount Hebron’s Hwang Suh won the girls’ crown.

by Joe DiBlasi

Senior Chris Wellde, a four-year number one player at Centennial High, shot a three-over 75 at the Timbers at Troy Golf Course on Thursday to win the individual championship over Glenelg’s Zack Berry by one-stroke today.

Berry was playing in another group, and Wellde could only watch, when
Berry hit the green on 18 and had a chance to win if he could sink a
30-foot birdie putt.

Berry’s attempt went eight-feet past the
hole, and then, he barley missed the comeback attempt. Had he not
missed, Berry would have tied the match.

Wellde, who finished as the runner-up in last year’s championship, has led his team to two consecutive team titles.

In
fact, Centennial has won 29 straight matches going back to his
sophomore year. The Eagles have finished with an 11-0 mark for two
straight seasons.

Mount Hebron’s Hwang Suh won the Howard County girls championship at at the Timbers at Troy Golf Course.

The third place finisher in the overall co-ed individual
championship was Hwang Suh of Mt. Hebron, who was the girls’ individual
champion. Hwang played in Wellde’s threesome with Gelnelg’s Matt Philie.

A superb baseball player prior to high school, Wellde decided to switch to golf at Centennial. The transition, so far, has been an easy one.

Wellde already has career low rounds of three-under at Turf Valley, and four-under at Hobbit’s Glen.

“I’m very happy that the team won, and it’s exciting to win individual honors,” Wellde said.

“I
lost by two shots last year to Donnie Shin (now at the University of
Maryland),” Wellde said. “It’s gratifying to be able to win both the
team and the individual championships.”

Wellde said he is
considering Rutgers, James Madison and Seton Hall for college, all of
which have expressed strong interest in having him join their golf
teams.

Wellde had a chance for eagle putts on the second and
17th holes. He hit 12 greens and 14 fairways in regulation, and had
birdies on the three and nine.

“I hit the ball really well today, and felt confident,” Wellde said.

“I lost by two shots last year…it’s gratifying to…win both the team and individual championships,” said Centennial’s Chris Wellde (above). “I hit the ball really well and felt confident.”

Many of Wellde’s drives carried around 280 yards, and his blast on the 17th hole was close to 300. A scratch golfer, Wellde’s handicap is just under one.