NTL all-star golf teams announced
By: The Review | Towanda Daily Review | October 30, 2017 | Photo courtesy The Review
The Northern Tier League announced their All-Star golf teams on Monday, October 30.
NTL Player of the Year
Ryan Murrelle (12th, Sayre)
Coach: Chuck Marvin
NTL average (rank): 78.14 (1st)
Low NTL score: 74 (Tyoga, Tomasso’s)
Medalist: Three of seven NTL matches (Tioga, Tyoga, Tomasso's)
Top 10 finishes: Seven of seven NTL matches
Notable: Finished T6 at District IV Championships (84-80=164 at Williamsport Country Club); shot 81 at East Region tournament, qualified for first PIAA Championships; finished 84-83=167 (T25) at states; four-time East Region qualifier; four-time All-NTL first-team selection; two-time NTL POY; four of seven NTL scores below 80.
Coach Marvin’s comments: “Ryan arrived on the school golf scene four years ago with the goal of making it to state competition. It is very rewarding to see him achieve that goal this year after three previous years making it to regionals and missing states by only a stroke or two. Ryan obviously loves the game and always shows respect for the game. He has been the leader of the team over his years of playing.”
First Team Selections
Tanner Adriance (11th, Cowanesque Valley)
Coach: Larry Moon
NTL average (rank): 79.00 (2nd)
Low NTL score: 70 (River Valley; NTL season-low score)
Medalist: Two of seven NTL matches (River Valley, Towanda)
Top 10 finishes: Seven of seven NTL matches
Notable: Won District IV Championship in playoff, shooting 75-79=154; shot 83 at East Region tournament; three-time All-NTL first-team selection; two-time East Region qualifier; three of seven NTL scores below 80; led Cowanesque Valley to second consecutive NTL title and second consecutive runner-up finish in District IV team championships.
Coach Moon’s comments: “Tanner Adriance had another solid year in the NTL. Tanner topped of his year with a win at Districts which is a very impressive accomplishment to add to his golf resume. Tanner ended the season on a bitter note missing the cut for States by 2 shots. He learned a lot from this season and I expect him to make it to States next year.”
Benjamin Barnett (11th, Wellsboro)
Coach: Steve Macensky
NTL average (rank): 80.57 (3rd)
Low NTL score: 76 (Tomasso’s)
Medalist at Tioga (79)
Top 10 finishes: Seven of seven NTL matches
Notable: Three of seven NTL scores below 80; two-time all-NTL first-team selection; finished 76-82=158 (T6) at District IV Championships to qualify for first East Regional; shot 81 at regionals to qualify for PIAA Championships; shot 88-87=175 (33rd) at states.
Coach Macensky’s comments: “Ben has been one of the most consistent golfers in the league over the last two seasons. He continues to bring his average down each year and he has his sights set on playing college golf in the future.”
Brandyn Tuttle (11th, Wellsboro)
Coach: Steve Macensky
NTL average (rank): 80.86 (4th)
Low NTL score: 77 (Tyoga)
Medalist at Corey Creek (78)
Top 10 finishes: seven of seven NTL matches
Notable: Four of seven NTL scores below 80; shot 88 at District IV Championships to qualify for second-day play; two-time all-NTL selection.
Coach Macensky’s comments: “Brandyn is one of the longest hitters in our league and he can simply over power a golf course. He had some really great rounds this year and if he can build on his consistency he could compete for the top spot next year.”
Austin Outman (10th, Cowanesque Valley)
Coach: Larry Moon
NTL average (rank): 81.29 (5th)
Low NTL score: 76 (River Valley, Tomasso’s)
Best NTL finish: T2nd (River Valley, Tomasso’s)
Top 10 finishes: Seven of seven NTL matches
Notable: Shot 77-78=155 at District IV Tournament, finishing third overall (one shot out of playoff); qualified for second consecutive East Region tournament, shooting 83. Two-time all-NTL selection. Seven of seven NTL scores below 90.
Coach Moon’s comments: “Austin Outman improved his game this year both in the NTL and at districts. Austin missed the cut for states by one shot this year, which was a major improvement from last year. Austin continues to mature as a player and I expect even better performance next year with a run at States.”
Tyler Vargeson (11th, Cowanesque Valley)
Coach: Larry Moon
NTL average (rank): 85.71 (6th)
Low NTL score: 76 (Shepard Hills – Medalist)
Top 10 finishes: six of seven NTL matches
Notable: Shot 94 at Williamsport in third District IV Tournament; six of seven NTL rounds below 90; two-time all-NTL selection.
Coach Moon’s comments: “Tyler Vargeson had another solid season improving his average. Tyler was disappointed with his play at districts and will continue to work on his game. I expect Tyler to make necessary improvements to help the team in his senior year next season.”
Second Team Selections
Taynton Repard (11th, Wellsboro)
Coach: Steve Macensky
NTL average (rank): 89.29 (7th)
Low NTL score: 81 (Tyoga)
Best NTL finish: T4th (Tyoga)
Top 10 finishes: five of seven NTL matches
Notable: Shot 93 at second District IV tournament; four of seven NTL rounds below 90; two-time all-NTL selection.
Coach Macensky’s comments: “Taynton shot some of his lowest rounds of his career this year. If he can start the year with a couple of better rounds next year, he will be competing for one of the top five spots. He was a great role model for the younger kids this year with his attitude on and off the course.”
Tyler Hawley (10th, Towanda)
Coach: Tim Farley
NTL average (rank): 90.00 (8th)
Low NTL score: 83 (Shepard Hills, Tyoga)
Best NTL finish: 5th (Shepard Hills)
Top 10 finishes: Four of seven NTL matches
Notable: Three of seven NTL scores under 90; highest-ranked newcomer to all-NTL team. Qualified for second-day play in his first District IV Tournament, shooting 86-97 to finish 18th.
Coach Farley’s comments: “Tyler is devoted to golf and sets his goals high. He seems to play his best on the toughest tracks. As Tyler matures, continues to improve and better manage his short game, and learns to better control his emotions, he will blossom into an outstanding player. It would not surprise me at all if he qualifies for states before he graduates.”
Nate Kennedy (11th, Athens)
Coach: Jeff Novak
NTL average (rank): 91.00 (9th).
Low NTL score: 84 (River Valley)
Best NTL finish: 5th (River Valley)
Top 10 finishes: four of seven NTL matches
Notable: Shot 84-87 in first District IV tournament to finish second (Class AAA) and qualify for East Region tournament; shot 92 at regionals to finish 50th. Four of seven NTL scores under 90.
Coach Novak’s comments: “Nate has had a wonderful year. He kept improving all season. Making districts was a goal for him; he went a step beyond that and made regionals. This made him only the second Athens golfer to make regionals in the last 12 years. I look forward to seeing him on the course next year.”
Hayden Dewey (10th, Troy)
Coach: Ed White
NTL average (rank): 92.14 (10th)
Low NTL score: 88 (Shepard Hills, Tyoga, Tomasso’s)
Best NTL finish: T9th (Shepard Hills)
Top 10 finishes: three of seven NTL matches
Notable: Three of seven NTL scores below 90; shot 99 at District IV qualifying tournament; representing Troy as an independent player, practices with North Penn-Mansfield.
Coach White’s comments: “Really a fun, nice kid. Good work ethic. Gets along really well with all players, not just his team (NPM). Listens well and wants to learn.”
Nate Sweet (12th, Sayre)
Coach: Chuck Marvin
NTL average (rank): 92.57 (11th)
Low NTL score: 86 (Tomasso’s)
Best NTL finish: T9th (Tomasso’s)
Top 10 finishes: one of seven NTL matches
Notable: Shot 106 in second District IV Tournament; two of seven NTL scores below 90; qualified for all-NTL team with his best round of the season in his last high school match.
Coach Marvin’s comments: “Nate Sweet has only played high school golf for two years and over that time has shown great improvement, as noted by selection to the all-NTL team. If he had played four years he certainly had the potential to make the first team. Nate always kept things light and entertaining going to and from matches.”
Other Awards
NTL Rookie of the Year (low first-year player average)
Kurtis Easton (11th, Cowanesque Valley)
Coach: Larry Moon
NTL average (rank): 94.00 (14th)
Low NTL score: 86 (Corey Creek)
Best NTL finish: 6th (Corey Creek)
Top 10 finishes: two of seven NTL matches
Notable: Solidified NTL champion at the #4 position in the lineup; shot 98 in first District IV Tournament; two of seven NTL scores under 90.
Coach Moon’s comments: “Kurtis Easton joined our team this year as a first-year golfer. He continued to impress me with his work ethic and played a major part in the team's NTL win this year. I have no doubt Kurtis learned a lot from the season and will continuing striving to be an even better golfer next season.”
Most Improved Player
Dylan Krise (11th, Athens)
Coach: Jeff Novak
NTL average (rank): 96.00 (20th)
Low NTL score: 88 (Tomasso’s)
Best NTL finish: T13th (Corey Creek, Tomasso’s)
Notable: Unanimous selection by NTL Coaches as MIP; lowered average scores by over 22 shots per round from 2016; league ranking jumped 28 spots, from 48th. Shot 91 at District IV qualifier.
Coach Novak’s comments: “One of Dylan's goals this year was improvement. Looking forward to having him back next year for his senior season.”
Scott Taylor Memorial (NTL Sportsman of the Year)
Dawsan Manning (11th, Towanda)
Coach: Tim Farley
The NTL Sportsman of the Year was renamed in 2014 to honor the former Sayre coach. Before his passing, Coach Taylor was the embodiment of sportsmanship in golf — displaying traits of etiquette, fair play, good humor, knowledge of the rules, and winning (or losing) with class and dignity. Veteran players from each NTL team were nominated by their coaches, with the recipient being chosen by a league-wide vote of players and coaches. A two-year starter; averaged 94.14 in seven NTL matches, good for 15th in the league rankings. Improved average scores by over 13 shots per round and NTL ranking by 21 spots from 2016; narrowly missed qualifying for the District IV tournament, shooting 90 at the DIV qualifier. Shot a career-low round of 89 at Tioga this season; best NTL finish was 11th (at Tioga and Tyoga).
Coach Farley’s comments: “Every team in the NTL had a worthy representative this year; for Dawsan to be named the recipient of an award named for Scott is a great honor. He is consistently the kid I can always count on to conduct himself in a way that Scott would admire, and he is obviously well-liked by his peers. His game has improved greatly through his hard work, as well — I look forward to a fantastic senior season from him.”
