North golfer strikes gold at states
Joe Arciuolo
Issue date: 11/9/09 Section: Sports
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Fichter recorded a two-round score of one over par at the championship held October 12-13 at Penn National Golf Club in Fayetteville, Pa.
"I knew I had a good chance of winning the tournament, but when I was up by three strokes on the final nine and swinging good, I knew it was over," Fichter told the Voice.
During the first round of play at the state tournament, Fichter shot a 73 one over par and ended up with a season average of 74. On the last day, he shot a 72, only two shots over his season's best score of 70, two under par at CCAC's home course, Pittsburgh National Golf Club.
With his two-day total of 145 (72-73), Fichter went on to defeat Potomac State's Luke Dempsey by three strokes. Dempsey finished with a total score of 148.
"I knew Ryan could play, but I wouldn't say I had high hopes that he would win the state tournament this year," said Chuck Bell, North Campus director of athletics and head golf coach. "But I hoped Ryan would play up to his potential for us this season, and he did."
Fichter first started playing golf at age three and began playing competitively at thirteen. He graduated from North Hills High School where he earned a varsity athletic letter for competing in interscholastic high school golf.
Growing up, his golf idols were Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia. As far as continuing his golf career, Fichter said he wants to become a teaching professional and hopefully move to a warmer climate to teach year round.
Fichter's shot at the Gold Medal might not have been possible had it not been for the advice of one, caring person, Chuck Bell.
The first day of the fall semester, Fichter was neither enrolled in school nor playing golf. After a phone call from Bell, Fichter was enrolled as an undecided major and also on the North Campus Golf Team by the end of the first week.
"He's a solid player," Bell told the Voice. "When I found out Ryan wasn't in school, I immediately got in touch with him and expressed to him his academic opportunities at CCAC as well as my interest in his fulfilling his passion for playing golf by joining the team. I knew he was a good player."
Fichter joins the ranks of some elite CCAC North Golf Team alumni who previously won State Championships, including Gene Walter (1992), Clayton Vervoon (1994) and Ryan VanSickle (1995). Both Walter and VanSickle continued their golf careers as PGA professionals.
There were two other CCAC North students that competed in the state tournament along with Fichter this year. Navy veteran Brad Nelson, who came to CCAC to earn a degree in nursing, had a very good season and competed in the state finals. Also, All-Conference team member Brian Koslosky qualified for the state tournament.
CCAC's Golf Team looks to have a bright future with Bell at the helm and Fichter coming back in the spring.