Horsfield, Yang in Contention at State High School Golf Tournaments
Tue. October 30, 2012 at 11:00 p.m. | By Polk Preps Staff
Ridge Community's Sam Horsfield left and Winter Haven's Althea Yang right
Sam Horsfield and Athena Yang are in the thick of contention at their respective state high school golf tournaments, both in the top five after 18 holes.
Horsfield, a sophomore at Ridge Community High School in Davenport, is tied for fourth after Tuesday's first round of the Florida Boys Class 2A State Championship at Deer Island Golf and Lake Club in Tavares.
Yang, a freshman at Winter Haven High School, is tied for fifth after the first round in the Florida Girls Class 2A State Championship at Harbor Hills Country Club in Lady Lake.
Both golfers, coming off Polk County and district tournament championships, are competing as individuals in the 36-hole FHSAA Golf Finals, which end today.
Horsfield carded a 2-over-par 74 at Deer Island, while Yang shot 4-over 76 at Harbor Hills, both in blustery weather.
"Conditions were tough. The wind was blowing 20-25 mph,'' Ridge Community coach Bob McKnight said by phone. "It's a pretty exposed golf course.
"But he was solid. He hit the ball well,'' McKnight said.
Horsfield was even par on his front nine despite a double bogey on the par-3 third hole. But he birdied both the par-5s to make the turn even. He bogeyed No. 11 and No. 12 to fall to 2-over, where he finished.
McKnight said Horsfield, who fired a 7-under 65 in the Polk County Tournament at Providence, shot 32 in a practice round on the back nine on Monday.
"He can definitely make some birdies when he needs to,'' McKnight said.
Horsfield, who finished ninth in the state tournament as a freshman, is two shots off the lead at Deer Island, which is playing at 6,761 yards.
Travis Trace of Sandalwood in Jacksonville and Brad White of Tampa Plant both shot 72, while John McGuire of St. Petersburg High posted a 73. Horsfield is one of four players tied for fourth.
Yang, a ninth-grader playing in the state tournament for the first time, was a little jittery as she started on No. 10.
"She started off with a bogey, but I think that was nerves,'' said Winter Haven coach Robin Elkins by phone. "She's 14 years old and was playing with two seniors.
"When she got on the back nine, she seemed to come into her own and shot even par,'' Elkins said.
A birdie on No. 18, Yang's ninth hole, turned things around.
"She started getting Athena back on that 18th hole,'' Elkins said.
Yang made four birdies and eight bogeys, but nothing worse than bogey on a difficult day.
"It was so windy,'' Elkins said. "It was incredible golf. I'm surprised scores are that low.''
Yang may be a freshman, but she has tournament experience from playing on the Florida Junior Tour.
"I think she's going to have a good day (today),'' Elkins said.
Yang is five shots off the pace at Harbor Hills, playing at 5,530 yards. Carly Goldstein of Coral Glades leads the event with a 71. Paige Lyle of Timber Creek in Orlando shot 72, followed by Carianne Wright of DeLand (74) and Nicolette Donovan of Ponte Vedra (75). Yang is tied with Anastasia Talalenko of Naples Gulf Coast.
There are no Polk teams in the Class 2A or 1A tournaments.
Lakewood Ranch of Bradenton leads the boys teams with a score of 309, four strokes ahead of Ponte Vedra. Bartram Trail is tied for third with West Orange at 316, and Naples Gulf Coast is fifth at 319.
Lake Mary has an 11-shot lead over Cypress Bay in the girls tournament. Ponte Vedra is in third place at 340, with Gainesville Buchholz fourth at 341. Bartram Trail and Naples Gulf Coast are tied for fifth at 343.
Horsfield will tee off about 9:45 a.m. today. Yang goes off at 9:30 a.m.
For complete results of the Class 2A and 1A state tournaments, check the Florida High School Activities Association website at www.fhsaa.org/node/7733.
[ Del Milligan can be reached at del.milligan@theledger.com or at 863-802-7555. ]
Individual Top 10 Leaders
CLASS 2A STATE TOURNAMENTS
BOYS
1.Travis Trace, Sandalwood 72
1.Brad White, Tampa Plant 72
3.John McGuire, St. Petersburg 73
4.Jimmy Stanger, Tampa Gaither 74
4. Joshua Lee, Fleming Island 74
4. Sam Horsfield,
Ridge Community 74
4. Danny Walker, Lakewood Ranch 74
8. Logan Lanier, Bartram Trail 75
8. Taylor Funk, Ponte Vedra 75
8. Benjamin Boulch, Lakewood Ranch 75
8. Dirk Kuehler, Spruce Creek 75
GIRLS
1. Carly Goldstein, Coral Glades 71
2. Paige Lyle, Timber Creek 72
3. Carianne Wright, DeLand 74
4. Nicolette Donovan, Ponte Vedra 75
5. Athena Yang,
Winter Haven 76
5. Anastasia Talalenko, Gulf Coast 76
7. Sabrina Rumbaugh, Fleming Island 77
7. Madison Lellyo, Olympia 77
7. Lauren Coe, Palm Harbor Univ. 77
10. Gianna Tomeo, Manatee 78
10. Valentina Haupt, Cypress Bay 78
10. Alessandra Kutz, Lake Mary 78
