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Mitchell Girls Just Glad To Qualify For Regional Golf

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A Tribune staff report

Published: October 18, 2007

DUNEDIN - Following Tuesday's marathon Class 2A-District 12 girls golf tournament at Dunedin Country Club, Mitchell's Joe Castellano didn't look like a coach whose team just lost an opportunity for a second consecutive championship when the final two scores were posted. Maybe that's because he knew his team already had accomplished its goal.

The Mustangs may have finished 25 strokes behind district champion East Lake, but Castellano was far from disappointed. All he and Mitchell really wanted was an opportunity to continue its season. That's just what they've done.

Mitchell, East Lake and third-place finisher Countryside all qualified for Monday's 2A-Region 4 tournament at Tampa's Heritage Isles, giving a stellar Mustangs lineup another chance to go after a bigger prize.

'To be honest, we had a really short week and this was one of the worst the girls have played all year,' Castellano said, 'but the whole thing was to advance and that's what we did. Now they have an opportunity to go out and see what they can do against the rest of the region.'

With a lineup that sports Megan Van Etten, who led Mitchell with an 18-over-par 90 on Tuesday, Victoria Kinney, Sarah Yarbrough, Rosemarie Quinones and Kristen Pitts, the Mustangs have talent at all five slots, even if the unfamiliarity of the Dunedin course produced scores that may suggest otherwise. Now, the task Mitchell faces is proving how much talent it has - on the course. That's exactly what Castellano believes will occur during Monday's regional.

'The one thing with these girls is that I always expect them to play well,' the coach said. 'It seems like whenever it's most important for them to play their best, they always do. That's the type of player these girls are and that's why I think they'll have much better scores at the regional.'
Chris Errington Saddlebrook Survives Citrus In 1A-9 District

WESLEY CHAPEL - Saddlebrook Prep boys golf coach Mark Hirschey wouldn't talk about the Class 1A-District 9 golf tournament until he knew which team won the event.

It turned out he wasn't being paranoid.

Inverness Citrus High threw a scare at the Spartans on Tuesday. Playing on its home course, Saddlebrook managed to beat Citrus by two strokes, 309-311, to defend the title. Citrus' Nick Brothers took medalist honors with a 1-over-par 71. Saddlebrook's Andreas Thoma was second with a 72.

Thoma's coach was breathing a sigh of relief.

'We feel lucky,' Hirschey said. 'We lost to them Citrus on Wednesday in a match. Lindstrom was a little off. We look for him to come back in the regionals. Citrus is always competitive. It's always back and forth. He Citrus coach has five solid players. The golf course is in good shape. The greens are in good shape. We are real pleased with that.'

Zephyrhills finished third with Rick Briggs firing a 78.

This was the first district tournament for Bishop McLaughlin, Sunlake and Academy of the Lakes.

Saddlebrook, Citrus and Zephyrhills advanced to the 1A regional Tuesday at Ocala's Lake Diamond course.

Larry Bugg

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