Horsfield, Connors Look To Qualify for State
Sun. October 23, 2011 at 2:47 a.m. | By Polk Preps Staff
Ridge Community High School golfer Sam Horsfield watches his tee shot on 8C during the 2A District 8 boys golf tournament last week. He'll compete in the regional tournament on Monday (Photo by RICK RUNION | THE LEDGER )
By B.J. PITZEN | LEDGER CORRESPONDENT
LAKELAND | Twelve Polk-County Teams and 12 individuals advanced last Monday to the Class 1A and 2A regional golf tournaments to be held at three different sites around central and west Florida on Monday.
Each participant aims for a spot in the FHSAA state tournament Nov. 1-2.
George Jenkins' boys won the Class 2A, District 8 tournament at Cleveland Heights in Lakeland last Monday led by freshman Hayden Hill, who shot 72 to place second. The Eagles move on to the Class 2A, Region 5 tournament at 8 a.m. Monday on the par-72 Stoneybrook West Golf Club in Winter Garden.
Lakeland and Sebring also qualified for the Regional tournament.
Sam Horsfield claimed his first big high school victory in a one-stroke victory at the Heights by shooting 1-under-par 71. Tim McIntee, of Haines City, qualified with a 76 and Kathleen's Matt Anderson shot 79 to move on individually in Class 2A.
Sebring's girls won the Class 2A, District 8 tournament at Sun ‘n Lake's Deer Run Course at home by shooting 373. George Jenkins nipped Bartow by one shot as both teams also advanced to play Monday at 8:30 a.m. at Windermere Country Club. Bartow's Markie McCann aims to once again qualify for the FHSAA finals for her second straight year.
Individually in Class 2A, Lakeland's Alyssa Martinez shot 97 to advance to the Region 3 event. Lynsy Snapp fired 99 for Lake Gibson and Winter Haven's Samantha Alivio had 102.
At regionals, the top two boys and girls teams and top two individuals for both boys and girls not on one of those teams will make the state tournament Nov. 1-2. The Mission Inn Resort & Club at Howey-in-the-Hills will serve as the venue for both boys and girls. The boys will play El Campeon course while the Class 2A girls will tread the fairways of Las Colinas for the FHSAA finals.
McKeel Academy boys will play in the Class 1A, Region 5 tournament for the second year in a row after shooting a 326 team score at River Greens Golf Course in Avon Park. Combating the Wildcats for a qualifying spot at Bardmoor Golf & Country Club in Largo will be All Saints Academy and Lakeland Christian.
Tenoroc's Zachary Horton and Avon Park's Amir Becker each advanced to regionals after firing 77 at districts. Frostproof's Rhett Pooley beat out his own teammate Dustin Baber by one shot at River Greens with an 81 last Monday to move on to the Class 1A regional tournament at Bardmoor.
The top boys region 5 individuals and teams will get a chance at the Class 1A state title in Tavares at Deer Island Golf and Lake Club Nov. 1-2.
Frostproof's girls won the Class 1A, District 13 tournament at River Greens by shooting 389 to advance to the region 5 site with the boys at Bardmoor. McKeel Academy and Lakeland Christian also made the 8 a.m. start tomorrow by finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively in Avon Park.
Tenoroc's Kayla Connors won medalist honors at River Greens besting the field by 12 shots with a 3-over-par 75. Santa Fe's Margaret Ross shot 87 and eighth-grader Lauren Thielen had 88 for All Saints to earn a spot in regionals.
The top girl's region 5 individuals and teams will get a chance at the Class 1A state title in Lady Lake at Harbor Hills Country Club Nov. 1-2.
