Sayre’s Ryan Murrelle walked out of the clubhouse with an ear-to-ear smile after receiving the news he just qualified for the PIAA Golf Championships.

The two prior years were filled with disappointment as Murrelle failed to qualify due to one stroke in both instances. Those two disappointing years helped fuel Murrelle to the finish as he posted an 81 at Monday’s East Region Golf Championships in Fleetwood.

“I’ve been off by one shot the past two years,” Murrelle said. “It’s my senior year and the goal was just to go out and have fun, shoot some low scores and reach the State tournament.”

Murrelle finished with six pars and a birdie. Most of his low shots came on the back nine. He hit the birdie on 17 and then followed that up with a par to finish the back nine holes.

The birdie came on a chip just on the outside cut of grass on the green. Murrelle lined up the shot well and chipped in from five yards.

“I’ve worked so hard my whole high school career and to be 0-4 would just suck,” Murrelle said. “It was shaky. I had a lot of good holes and sometimes I had to ask myself what I was doing.”

Murrelle hit eight Pars on the day. After hitting the birdie on 17 he came through the front nine and earned Pars on two of the first three holes. His best runs came when he hit three consecutive pars on holes 12, 13, and 14.

“You have to have a layout on every shot for this course,” Murrelle said. “This course is crazy.”

Athens’ Nate Kennedy didn’t fare as well, finishing with a 92. He failed to make the cut, but showed promise with a streak of three Pars on the front nine holes. He ended the day with five pars.

“I wanted to keep the ball on the fairway and shoot in the eighties,” Kennedy said. “My drives were good today.”

AA Girls Qualifiers
1. Morgan Sohosky (Bloomsburg), 84; 2. Alexandra Lowder (Eastern York), 91; 3. Kristy Bell (Wyomissing), 92; T-4. Selina Albert (Lourdes Regional), 95; Aly Renfschler (Hamburg), 95; 6. Carolyn Mueller (Villa Joseph Marie), 96; 7. Jessica McClellan (MMI Preparatory), 99.

AAA Girls Qualifiers
1. Kendel Adrams (Susquehannock), 80; 2. Samantha Yao (Conestoga), 80; 3. Sophia Mancuso (CB East), 81; 4. Mary Kate Norcross (Chambersburg), 83; 5. Olivia Patrow (Stroudsburg), 84; T-6. Julianne Lee (Central York), 85; Ellen Wager (Manheim Township), 85; T-8. Liddie McCook (Downingtown East), 86; Cristea Park (Wissahickon), 86; Charlotte Scully (Unionville), 86; T-11. Allie Craig (Pittston Area), 88; Sophie Orsulak (Blue Mountain), 88.

AA Boys Qualifiers
1. Grant Gronka (Central Columbia), 75; T-2. Chase Miller (Tulpehocken), 76; William Mirams (Notre Dame East Stroudsburg), 76; 4. Benjamin Wiseman (New Hope-Solebury), 77; 5. Ryan McCabe (Devon Prep), 78; T-6. Vincent Bender (Warrior Run), 79; Evan Salamone (Lourdes Regional), 79; 8. Jack Habeeb (Scranton Prep), 80; T-9. Benjamin Barnett (Wellsobor), 81; Connor Gollwitzer (Oley Valley), 81; Ryan Murelle (Sayre), 81; T-12. Morgan Fox (Millersburg), 82; Nick Hooper (Lancaster Country Day), 82; Drew Warner (Moravian Academy), 82.

AAA Boys Qualifiers
1. Brock Fassnacht (Warwick), 70; 2. Ben Pochet (Spring Ford), 71; T-3. Caleb Ryan (Norristown), 73; JT Spina (Pope John Paul II), 73; T-5. Alex Seelig (Exeter), 75; Colin Walsh (William Tennent), 75; T-7. Ward McHenry (Owen J. Roberts), 76; Karsen Walsh (Chambersburg), 76; Mason Willis (Warwick), 76; Brett Wagner (Pocono Mountain East), 76; T-11. Timothy Cooper (Central Dauphin), 77; Greg DeLuca (Neshaminy), 77; Morgan Loftand (Conestoga), 77; Jacob Macinanti (Manheim Township), 77; Joshua Ryan (Norristown), 77; Austin Schreffler (Northern York), 77; T-17. Shane Angle (Crestwood), 78; Kevin Anthony (CB South), 78; Connor Bennick (Unionville), 78; T-20. Hart (Holy Ghost Prep), 79; Matthew Katamar (Allentown Central Catholic), 79; Trey Kuntz (Manheim Township), 79; Joe Parrini (Central York), 79; Alex Pillar (Wallenpaupeck), 79.