Pittston Area made it back to the District 2 Class 3A Boys Team Golf Championship match for the second straight year, but Abington Heights was again in the way when the Patriots got there.
The Comets won their third straight district title, using a strong back nine to pull away from the Patriots for a 315-332 victory Monday at Elkview Country Club.
In the other match, defending Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association state champion Scranton Prep had five players break 80 and two break par on the way to a 295-318 win over Lake-Lehman.
Comparing the top four scores from the six-player lineups, Abington Heights needed 37s by Ryan Boyd and Phillip Matthews to lead just 157-159 at the midway point in Monday’s match.
All six Comets shot 41 or better, a feat that Patrick Ruane was the only Pittston Area player to accomplish, on the back nine.
“I didn’t look at the nine-hole scores when I was up at the tent, even though I was in the last group out for my team,” said Boyd, who shot 38 on the back to finish as medalist with a 75. “I just kind of thought that we would do alright.
“I trusted my team and I knew we were going to pull it out.”
The Comets wound up with five of the best six scores in the Class 3A match where Ruane’s 76 was second best.
Matthews shot 78 and both Will Herold and Sebastian Meyer had 81s to complete the team score for the Comets.
Conner O’Malley-Kalinoski finished with an 82 and Seamus Kelley an 86.
Noah Gruber posted an 83 and Ryan Noone an 85 for Pittston Area. Nick Cook and Andrew Nocito each shot 88 while Gianni Bartorillo had an 89.
Abington Heights, which suffered its only two losses in Lackawanna League Division 1 against Scranton Prep, will meet Jersey Shore Tuesday at Williamsport Country Club at 11 a.m. for the District 2-4 Class 3A Subregional title and a state tournament berth.
