Class 1A, Region 5 Golf: Tenoroc's Connors Advances to State

 

Third time's the charm for Tenoroc junior Kayla Connors.

After two years of failing to make the cut for the girls' state golf tournament, Connors performed well enough to advance to this year's event after shooting an 81 at the Class 1A, Region 5 girls' golf tournament at the Bardmoor Golf & Country Club in Largo on Monday.

"Last year I was disappointed I didn't make it, so this year I was really hoping to play well enough to get in," said Connors, a three-time district champion.

"I'm excited to go."

She'll get a chance at the title in Lady Lake at Harbor Hills Country Club on Nov. 1-2.

The key to Connors' success this season has been consistency.

And it showed again Monday morning.

After she triple bogeyed a 319 yard par-4 hole on the back nine of her round, Connors parred on three of her final five holes to finish with a qualifying score.

"I really didn't focus on it," Connors said.

"I played the next hole the best I could."

That meant overcoming two shots into bunkers on what turned into a windy affair midway through the day.

"She rarely gets into trouble," Tenoroc coach Bryan Tarr said. "But when she does she just keeps pushing ahead."

Connors was the lone golfer from Polk County to advance to the state tournament.

McKeel's Rocky Hirsch, who was trying for a second consecutive state showing, failed to make it out of regionals after shooting 76 on Monday.

He double bogeyed two holes on a course he described as "slick."

"It played pretty tough," said Hirsch, who came in second at the county tournament this year.

"The wind kind of kicked up after we got going and the greens were pretty firm."

Hirsch hit birdie putts on his final two holes, but it wasn't enough of a recovery to advance.

"I've been slumping around all day since not making it," Hirsch said. "Last year I went and I was just happy to be there. If I would have gone this year I would have gone to contend."

McKeels' boys team, which advanced after winning the Class 1A, District 13 tournament last Monday, finished behind team winners Jesuit and Northside Christian.

Academy of Holy Names won on the girls side.

Northside Christian was second with a score of 346.