Boys High School Golf Preview
Tue. September 04, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. | By Solange Reyner
Ridge's Sam Horsfield, left, and McKeel's Rocky Hirsch will be looking to contend for a state title this season. (Photo by RICK RUNION AND MICHAEL WILSON | THE LEDGER)
By SOLANGE REYNER
THE LEDGER
Here is a look at the top five boys golfers and the top five boys golf teams to watch this fall in Polk County high school golf:
ATHLETES TO WATCH
ROCKY HIRSCH, MCKEEL ACADEMY, SR.: A first team All-County selection last year and PolkPreps.com player of the year as a sophomore, Hirsch finished fifth in the region last year. This summer, he won the Mid Florida Junior Golf Tour tournament of champions by seven strokes.
SAM HORSFIELD, RIDGE COMMUNITY, SO.: The PolkPreps.com golfer of the year who was the lone male athlete to make it to the FHSAA state finals in the sport. He had a nine-hole average of 34.4 and won the district and regional tournaments. Also qualified for the U.S. Amateur and competed in his third USGA national championship of the summer. He also played in the U.S. Amateur Public Links and the U.S. Junior Amateur.
STEVEN HANCOCK, GEORGE JENKINS, SR.: A second team All-County selection who posted a nine hole average of 40.10 last year. Also placed second in the Youth Division of the Youth Villa Memorial Day weekend and first in the 49th annual Youth Villa Classic at Bartow Golf Course in the youth division in late May.
JASON HUNTINGTON, LAKELAND, SR.: First team All-County pick who had a swell summer. Huntington won the Youth Villa Junior Tournament and the Junior Citrus Open as well as a MFJGT event at Grasslands in less than a month. He was also named the player of the year for the Mid Florida Junior golf tour.
JACK BROWN, BARTOW, SR.: Placed first in the Youth Division of the Youth Villa Memorial Day weekend and second at the 49th annual Youth Villa Classic at Bartow Golf Course in the youth division in late May. Has a nine hole average of 37.
TEAMS TO WATCH
GEORGE JENKINS: Went 22-1-1 last year and won the Class 2A, District 8 title. Also captured the Polk County Invitational title. Lose one senior in Garrett Barham, but return Hancock, Hayden Hill, Trevor Bates, Kyle Jenkins and Devon Hammond. Three players have averages below 39.50 per nine holes.
MCKEEL ACADEMY: Finished seven strokes shy of going to state last year. Went 20-0 in the regular season and also won the Class 1A, District 13 title. Return Hirsch, a first team All-County selection, and sophomore Cole Berger, a second team All-County selection who moved to the No.2 spot last year.
BARTOW: Finished fourth in a tough district last year but return Brown and Andrew Penn, a senior who posted a nine hole average of 39 last year. Michael Walker, a freshman, is expected to be a solid addition, coach Steve Newell said.
LAKELAND: Went 18-4-3 and finished second in the district last year. Return Huntington, a first team All-County selection, and three other top players, including juniors Cason McNeill and Josh Wilson and sophomore Ryan Birt. McNeill finished fourth in his age group in the Junior Citrus tournament over the summer. Team also adds freshman Grant Marsh, the Polk County middle school champion.
ALL SAINTS’ ACADEMY: Finished second in the district and return district championship Jared Wright, who is recovering from a staph infection over the summer that kept him out of tournaments. Playing number three is All-County honorable mention Tristan Rafool.
SOLANGE REYNER | THE LEDGER
Team Capsules (Provided by coaches)
School: McKeel Academy
Coach: Matt Francis
Last Season’s Record: 20-0
State Finish: Not Provided
Regional Finish: 4th
District Finish: 1st
Top Athletes: Sr. Rocky Hirsch, So. Cole Berger
Scouting Report: We have a very strong squad this year. It will be hard to improve on last year, but we definitely have the talent to do it. We have set our goals extremely high this year. Last year we finished regionals in fourth place, just 7 strokes from going to state. This year we are pushing to contend for one of the two regional positions that go to state.
School: Lake Wales
Coach: Mike Settle
Last Season’s Record: 8-6
State Finish: Not Provided
Regional Finish: Not Provided
District Finish: Not Provided
Top Athletes: Jr. Trent Farrow, Jr. Hunter Lerch, So. Hunter Taylor, Fr. Charlie Gist, Jr. Dylan Pipkin, So. Seth Thompson
Scouting Report: We are getting better every year. The kids have worked hard all summer and you can really tell a big difference. Could make some noise in districts this year if we continue to work hard.
School: Auburndale Senior High
Coach: Kevin L Smith
Last Season’s Record: 7-12
State Finish: Not Provided
Regional Finish: Not Provided
District Finish: 11th
Top Athletes: Sr. Zane Smith, So. Noah Dodd, Fr. Zachary Dodd, So. Sean Horrigan, Jr. Scott Sponaugle, So. Christian Azzarella.
Scouting Report: We are a lot deeper than in past years. Last year we had almost all newbies and we did not perform to expectations. If the underclassmen grow up quick, we may be able to sneak up on a couple of people, if not we will be pulling out our fishing poles early.
School: Winter Haven Senior High
Coach: Richard Stafford
Last Season’s Record: 5-6
State Finish: Not Provided
Regional Finish: Not Provided
District Finish: Not Provided
Top Athletes: Sr. Ray Freeman, Sr. Aaron Kirin, Sr. Matt Fraiser, So. Eli Hendrickson, So. Zach Alivio
Scouting Report: The team has shown improvement during practice and should be competitive at every match. I think a realistic goal is an 8-6 season.
School: George Jenkins
Coach: Paul Weaver
Last Season’s Record: 22-1-1
State Finish: Not Provided
Regional Finish: Not Provided
District Finish: 1st
Top Athletes: Sr. Steven Hancock, So. Hayden Hill, So. TJ Wright, Sr. Trevor Bates, Jr. Kyle Jenkins, Jr. Devon Hammond
Scouting Report: We gain an experienced freshman in Devon Knight. Solid summer by Steven Hancock and TJ Wright (winning age divisions in the Villa tournament). We lost only one starting senior, and look to build upon what we’ve done the past 2 years. Goal is to qualify for regionals and make it out for the first time in 14 years to give Trevor and Steven the elusive State Series berth.
School: Lakeland
Coach: Paul Roberts
Last Season’s Record: 18-4-3
State Finish: Didn’t Qualify
Regional Finish: 6th
District Finish: 2nd
Top Athletes: Sr. Jason Huntington, Jr. Cason NcNeill, Jr. Josh Wilson, So. Ryan Birt, Fr. Grant Marsh, So. Nate Stauffer
Scouting Report: LHS was 2nd in the district the last two years and is looking forward to a good year from our returning top four players, along with the addition of Grant Marsh. The team must work hard and improve every day to compete at a high level in the district.
School: Bartow
Coach: Scott Newell
Last Season’s Record: Not Provided
State Finish: Not Provided
Regional Finish: Not Provided
District Finish: Not Provided
Top Athletes: Sr. Jack Brown, Sr. Andrew Penn, Fr. Michael Walker
Scouting Report: We have two 4 year seniors who will lead the team this year. Jack Brown and Andrew Penn. Both of these players have matured into good players. Both should have strong finishes in the county and district tournaments this year. We have a few incoming freshman. Michael Walker is one of them and should be a great asset to the team this year. We should be a contender and move on to the regional tournament.
School: Mulberry
Coach: Heath Hunt
Last Season’s Record: 8-5
State Finish: Not Provided
Regional Finish: Not Provided
District Finish: 7th
Top Athletes: Sr. Ryan Renner, Jr. Alonso Rivera, Jr. D.J. Hartwick, So. Philip Sutton, Fr. Matthew Smith
Scouting Report: With three starters returning and two key newcomers, the Panthers look to field their deepest team in recent years.
School: Fort Meade Middle Senior
Coach: Bill Whitener
Last Season’s Record: 0-7
State Finish: Not Provided
Regional Finish: Not Provided
District Finish: Not Provided
Top Athletes: Jr. Caleb Frazier, Jr. Billy Kelley, So. Zach Peters, 8th grade Andrew Lovett,
Scouting Report: Our team will be young and inexperienced again this year. This is the second year we have had a golf team in 6 or 7 years. We will be competing as an independent this year. With Caleb Frazier, our #1 golfer from last year being out with a broken arm, we will be hard pressed to be competitive, but we are going to be going after every match, every week. Another one of our players, Jordan Weeks, a 9th grader, will be out for most of the year with other health issues.
School: Frostproof
Coach: Ernie Pittman
Last Season’s Record: 14-3
State Finish: Not Provided
Regional Finish: Rhett Pooley qualified
District Finish: 4th
Top Athletes: So. Rhett Pooley, Fr. Dustin Baber, 8th grade Wyatt Spier, So. Corey Franks, 8th grade Luke Petrie, 8th grade Jay-Allen Mack
Scouting Report: The Bulldogs had an outstanding season in 2011. Missing a team trip to regionals by just a couple of strokes and with everyone back except our #6 player, the outlook is very bright indeed! Rhett Pooley leads a talented group of young golfers.
