FLEETWOOD - "This is golf."

Len Brylewski captured the essence of the sport succinctly.The veteran Marian coach had high hopes for Albert McFadden at Monday's PIAA Class AA Boys' East Region Golf Championships.But McFadden carded an 84 at the par-72 Golden Oaks Golf Club, finishing tied for 21st and failing to advance to the PIAA Championships."I really thought, based upon the two practice rounds he did on Saturday and Sunday, that he would make the cut," Brylewski said of McFadden's chances to make the field of 14 PIAA qualifiers. "Unfortunately, this is golf."The greens today were … very, very fast. And if you didn't hit the greens, it was almost impossible. So I think that's where he had his problems. Yesterday, I was with him and he hit 17 greens. That's a lot. And today, none."McFadden was at three-over par with a 39 after his first nine holes and finished with a 45 to close out his round."Pin placements were very hard," McFadden said afterward. "You can't go long, and if it's short, then you have to watch if you three-putt it. You had to stay in the middle of the greens, and that's what I was going for, like I was in the practice round … and I didn't today. I was going for it and it would be chunked, or shanked. It was bad."It happens. It's golf. Putting was a struggle out there. A lot of the putts didn't go my way; a lot of birdie putts. And that turns into a three-putt, and it happens. It's golf."While McFadden felt he played well off the tee, it was his short game that wasn't up to par."I don't rate it as being difficult," he said. "It's not a hard golf course. You have to place all your shots, really. Everything has to be placed."My driver was great. I actually drove the ball really well again, it's just the short game was bad today."Difficulties on this day aside, McFadden enjoyed a stellar senior season, leading the Colts to a Schuylkill League team championship and a perfect 10-0 record in Division II play.Individually, McFadden won boys' medalist honors at the Schuylkill League meet, and took fourth at last week's District 11 Championships."I thought it was great, how we went undefeated and won the league, and how I won the league individually," McFadden said. "I think it was great."Brylewski knows as well as anyone how much McFadden has meant to the Marian golf program."It's been a good year," the coach said. "We're losing a lot of seniors so it's going to be a little tough next year."But he was a big key. He was a big part of our whole program."While he played a large role in the Colts' success, McFadden was quick to point out how much Brylewski assisted him."He's helped me a lot," McFadden said of Brylewski. "He's put a lot of pressure on me - pressure to do well. And I made it here."I just want to thank everybody for all the support they have given me and the team this season. It was great and it really meant a lot."PLAY IT AGAIN … Lancaster Catholic's RJ Van Tosh and Lower Moreland's Daniel Galbreath completed 18 holes tied at 72. But Van Tash won the Class AA individual title in a playoff.PLAY IT AGAIN PART II … Notre Dame East Strousburg's Matthew McGinley, Tulpehocken's Chase Miller and Warrior Run's Vincent Bender carded an 80 after 18 holes, though only two could be among the 14 who advanced to the Class AA PIAA Championships. McGinley and Miller advanced in a playoff.