BETHLEHEM - Palmerton entered Monday’s Colonial League golf championships with high expectations - and it didn’t disappoint.

Tyler Hager won the individual title, firing a sizzling two-under-par on the front nine and finishing with a two-over par 73 on the Bethlehem Golf Club course.

Teammates Josh Suto (75) and Connor Reinhard (78) took second and third place, respectively, and the Bombers had four of the top eight finishers to easily capture the team championship.

“Mike Brennan and I were both really happy with the way the team performed today,” said Palmerton’s Alex Knoll, who shares the co-coaching title with Brennan. “We had some pretty lofty goals entering this season, and today we were able to take care of two more of those.

“Before the season started, we talked to the kids about going undefeated during the regular season, winning the individual and team titles at leagues, winning individual and team titles at districts, and qualifying for states as a team. We are still on track to accomplish all of those things.”

Hager’s title not only helped take care of one of those team goals, it also fulfilled an individual one for him as well.

“This is definitely something I wanted,” said Hager, who lost the league title to Notre Dame’s Ben Ortwein in a playoff a year ago after both players shot a 78 through 18 holes. Ortwein was back this year and once again shot a 78, tying Reinhard for third place. But Hager’s five-shot improvement gave him the championship.

“It’s a great feeling,” said Hager. “I felt like I was the favorite coming in, but I also knew there were some really good golfers here and I would have to be at my best to win.

“I thought I played very well - especially on the front nine. I was able to scramble for a couple of pars on the front, and then I birdied holes eight and nine. I lost a couple of strokes to par coming in, but for the most part I was happy with how I played.”

Hager’s toughest competition came from his teammates, as Suto and Reinhard both turned in outstanding rounds as well.

Suto, who was playing in the foursome right in front of Hager, also had a pair of birdies during his round and was only a stroke behind his teammate heading into the 18th hole. But a three-putt bogey on the final hole all but ended his title hopes.

“I also shot a 75 when we came here yesterday (Sunday) for a practice round,” said Suto. “So that’s about what I was hoping to shoot today. Overall, I was pretty happy with how I played. You always would like to get a shot or two back, but on the whole, I was pretty pleased.

“Tyler (Hager) is a great golfer, and we really push each other. I knew he was going to be the one to beat. I wasn’t following his scores coming in; I was just trying to focus on my round. But I figured my score probably wouldn’t be good enough because Tyler would probably be right around par.”

Both Suto and Reinhard said one of their main goals coming in was to get a top five individual finish, along with the automatic berth into the District 11 tournament that comes with it.

“I was really happy with my round,” said Reinhard about a performance that saw him par six of his first seven holes, and then add a birdie on the back nine. “I thought a top five finish was a realistic goal for me coming in. I was a little worried when I got on a bogey train on holes eight through 12, but I was able to put a few pars together, and I had a birdie on 15 that really helped.

“I’m also happy for Tyler and Josh. It’s nice to have two teammates at the top of the leaderboard like that. But that’s what’s great about this team; we have so many quality golfers pushing each other and helping each other that it can’t help but make everyone on the team better.”

TEAM TOTALS ... In addition to Hager, Suto and Reinhard, Derek Rae had an 80 and Ethan Steinmetz fired an 86 to give Palmerton a team total of 392. That was 20 strokes better than second-place Moravian Academy.

HIGHER EXPECTATIONS ... Knoll said he thinks the Bombers have a chance to add a couple more players to join Hager, Suto and Reinhard in the District 11 tournament field during next week’s district qualifying round. He also said he “feels good” about Palmerton’s chances to repeat its sweep of the top three spots at districts.

TOP TIGER ... Northwestern’s top golfer was Tyler Stasko, who shot a 91.

BUSY GOLFER ... Knoll said that Hager’s round was even more impressive considering he played 72 holes of golf over the weekend at the Lehigh Valley Amateur golf tournament. Hager won the tournament’s Junior Division championship.