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Silverfield Leads Plant To 5th Place

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By ADAM ADKINS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 1, 2007

LAKELAND - Apparently, Charles Silverfield's facial expressions are a bit confusing. At least to Coach Mike James.

James, Plant's boys golf coach, said Silverfield appeared so nerve-wracked before teeing it up at Wednesday's Class 2A state tournament that he thought his sophomore standout was in for a long two days.

'He looked like he might shoot 1,000,' James joked.
Silverfield didn't need quite that many.

For the second consecutive day, Silverfield turned in Plant's low round. He shot an even-par 72 in windy conditions at The Club at Bridgewater, following his 1-under 71 Tuesday. Silverfield's 36-hole 143 tied him for fourth with East Lake's Nick Buccina (69 on Wednesday) and two others, four strokes back of individual medalist Julian Suri of Jacksonville Bartram Trail.

The Panthers, with a two-day total of 607, finished fifth in the field of 16 teams, 28 strokes back of champion Ponte Vedra Beach Nease. East Lake finished tied for 14th with a team-total 632.

'A lot better than last year, that's for sure,' said Silverfield, who failed to shoot a sub-80 round and tied for 60th at last year's 1A state tournament as an individual qualifier from Berkeley Prep.
Silverfield took advantage of the five par 5s on the course Wednesday, going a combined 4 under. But Silverfield wasn't the only Plant golfer to have a solid day.

Junior Doug Letson turned in a 2-over 74, one stroke better than his round Tuesday, and senior Carter Ilgenfritz shot 77 Wednesday for an eight-stroke improvement from Day 1. Letson (149 total) finished tied for 12th, a group that included Riverview sophomore Ian McConnell (77-72), while Ilgenfritz (162) finished tied for 61st. Charlie Martin, who shot 75-78-153 and tied for 27th, rounded out Plant's scorecard.

'I'm really proud of them. When things were tough they didn't quit playing; they always tried their best,' James said. 'They improved on what they did last year, so I consider it a successful season.'
Bucs Finish 10th (Girls), 15th (Boys) at 1A Championship

Battling wet and windy conditions, Berkeley Prep's girls finished 10th in the field of 16 after a two-day total 728 at Ridgewood Lakes Golf and Country Club in Davenport, while the boys finished tied for 15th after a two-day total 657 at Southern Dunes Golf & Country Club in Haines City at the Class 1A state tournaments.

'I think it was a great experience for them. Between districts and regionals, we knew both the boys and girls had a good chance at making it, but for both of them to make it at the same time was pretty impressive,' Berkeley Prep coach Tom Shea said. 'It's the first time in school history that has happened.'

On the girls side, junior Kim Carpenter was the most consistent in the tournament, shooting 82 Wednesday after an 83 Tuesday to tie for 28th.

Northside Christian, led by Michelle Butler's 11th-place finish, placed third with a team-total 659, 57 strokes back of champion Plantation American Heritage. Academy at the Lakes senior Alexandra Irish, an individual qualifier, shot 80-83-163 to finish tied for 22nd.

Freshman Blake Morris led the Berkeley Prep boys, shooting a 77 on Day 2 to finish with a 152 total and tie for 15th place. Austin Suarez made the biggest improvement on the second day, coming back from an opening-round 85 to shoot 79 to finish tied for 61st, a grouping that also included Tampa Catholic's Trent Stoker.

St. Pete Catholic, led by John Valenty's 22nd-place finish, finished tied for sixth with a two-day total 620, 30 strokes behind champion Orlando Circle Christian.

Adam Adkins

Yang Ties For 7th As Wildcats Finish 9th In Class 2A
LAKELAND - The Class 2A girls state golf tournament produced driving rain, whistling wind, an alligator that wanted to join the fun holding up Plant's back nine, and a lot of dejected girls who didn't do as well as they wanted to.

By the time all the girls has sloshed their way through two rounds of golf at The Club at Eaglebrook in Lakeland on Wednesday, Wharton's Shena Yang shot 149. That was seven shots behind medalist Casey Kennedy of Venice, tying her for seventh place individually. Her Wildcats teammates tied for ninth overall with Port St. Lucie (711), Plant finished 12th with 732 and Durant's Amy West (155) was in a four-way tie for 15th.

'Tuesday was wet, it was very windy, it was windy and raining and Wednesday it was just extremely windy and the course was wet so the ball didn't have much spring in play, so they had to play the ball as it was,' Wharton coach Maxine Stark said. 'I think they did great.'

Yang tied Jacksonville Bartram Trail's Gianna Morelli and Winter Park Lake Howell's Carlie Yadloczky.

'Everyone had to play under the same conditions, so I can't really complain,' Yang said. 'I could have done better. I'm not really happy with what I shot, but what happens happens and there's always next year.'

Plant was led by Genevieve King, who shot 167 over the two days. Lauren Jansen (207) improved by 11 strokes on Wednesday from her performance Tuesday at the Panthers' No. 4 spot.

'It was frustrating,' Plant coach Mark Anderson said. 'I'm proud of them. They played really well considering the elements and the conditions. My last two were about 10 strokes better than what they shot yesterday, but my first three were frustrated because they didn't improve the way they thought they should have.'

West echoed those sentiments about her 155 and was already looking forward to getting another shot at the state's best next season.

'I did OK, but I was expecting to do better,' West said. 'Holes 17 and 18 got poured on. Wednesday it was windy and the greens were really fast. I know I could have done a lot better, but I missed a lot of birdie opportunities.'

Cristina Ledra

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