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Cavender Uses Experience

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A Tribune staff report

Published: October 17, 2007

TARPON SPRINGS - The clerk behind the counter inside the clubhouse at Wentworth Golf Club recalled 700 golfers coming into his place of business last week shaking their heads.

The golfers competing in the Golf Channel Amateur Tour event said the course was one of the toughest courses on which they'd played. The best score, the clerk recalls, was a 74.

Monday afternoon, Mitchell junior Kenny Cavender shot a 78 at the course and won a playoff during the Class 2A-District 12 tournament, making him the lone Pasco County golfer in that district to advance to next week's 2A-Region 4 contest at Fox Hollow.

In addition to Wentworth being a naturally tough course, matters weren't helped with the constant whipping wind. Monday was the third time Cavender played that course and that undoubtedly was a help.

'It helps a lot because you definitely need to know what clubs to hit on this course, especially on the par 3s,' Cavender said.

Although golf is, for the most part, an individual sport, Cavender will not have the luxury of his teammates being nearby at the regional, unless they decide to watch his round. Individual sport or not, it's always nice to have that support.

'It's going to be odd,' Cavender said. 'None of my teammates are going to be there, but I know quite a few people already. It'll feel just like today.'

Next week, he'll attempt to use his knowledge of the course at Fox Hollow to advance out of the regional tournament and into state competition. When asked how many times he has played Fox Hollow, his answer was in the hundreds.

'I'm looking forward to it because I know I've played really good out there,' Cavender said. 'I play there every day.'
Eddie Daniels
Land O' Lakes Prepares For Lake Mary

WESLEY CHAPEL - Minutes after the marathon boys Class 2A-District 6 tournament at Lexington Oaks, Land O' Lakes was already thinking about next week's region tournament at Magnolia Plantation in Lake Mary.

Lake Mary is the defending Class 2A state champion and this year has the benefit of playing at its home course.

'They're going to have to play,' Land O' Lakes coach Tom Clark said. 'They're the state champions, they're on their home course and from what I was told last year it was one of the strongest regions in the nation. It's going to be big competition up there and I hope we bring our game and do the best we can possibly do and maybe get somebody to go to state.'

The Gators played well enough to earn runner-up to Brooksville Central, shooting 326 in the district tournament that took more than eight hours to complete and had two playoffs. Josh Barnett shot a 75 and Wes Parrish shot 76 and won his playoff against Tom Bastien of Central to earn fifth place.

Austin Costa shot 86 and Robbie Nieman shot 88.

Clark said the Gators would try to get some practice at Lake Mary before the region tournament Monday.

Cristina Ledra

Wildcats Take 2nd In Class 2A-District 6

SUMMERFIELD - Wesley Chapel accomplished its goal - advancing to next week's girls Class 2A-Region 2 tournament - without playing its best in Monday's District 6 tournament at Eagle Ridge Golf Club.

Coach Scott Boyd said there's still room for improvement for the Wildcats (385 strokes), who finished runner-up to Ocala Vanguard (344).

'We're going to focus on the short game this week in practice,' Boyd said. 'Where you gain the most or lose the most is around the greens.'

Senior T.J. Adipietro continued her solid, steady play with an even-par 72 on the long layout. She finished second overall, one shot behind Lake Weir freshman Heather Proctor. Teammate Sam Friese was sixth with an 89.

The third-best score turned in by a Pasco County player in the tournament came from Land O' Lakes' Allison Howard, who finished fifth in the conference tournament a week earlier. Her 93 was respectable, but three shots off the region cut. The team was eighth overall.

'She did a very good job,' Gators coach Mary Jane Walker said. 'It was a tough course, a long course. It seemed like miles and miles and miles, and our team's not used to 18 holes.'

As for the Wildcats, they will travel to Jacksonville Beach for Monday's region. Boyd said the course they played in the district tournament, which was 'in fantastic shape,' will serve as a strong tuneup for that event.

Though Wesley Chapel has to be considered an underdog to reach states as a team, Adipietro should contend for an individual berth.

'With each step, the talent gets much more difficult,' Boyd said. 'I think we all expect T.J. to move on.'

Bart O'Connell

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