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By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

Hernando Today

Published: December 14, 2008

Central High's reign as the top program in both the county and the district came to a close this season. In both cases, the same team stole away the crown held by the Bears.

The new local leader resides in Spring Hill off Mariner Boulevard, on the campus of F.W. Springstead High School.

The Eagles, for many years mired in obscurity, rose to first place in both the County and Class 2A, District 6 Tournaments.

Central had previously never lost a county championship in its past seven years under Head Coach Gary Morton, and captured the past two district titles.

Springstead's rise could be primarily pinpointed to the play of its top two golfers, Kevin Hubbard and Ryan Kiely, who finished 1-2 in the County Tournament at Southern Hills Plantation Club.

That duo also heads the Hernando Today Boys Golf All-County team, along with Central's Palmer Berberette and Ryan Johnston, Hernando's Zack Teele and Nature Coast's Anthony Rule.

The team was compiled with the help of the county's coaches. They unanimously selected Hubbard as the Player of the Year and Long as Coach of the Year.

Kiely makes a difference

Though the Eagles figured to have the senior Hubbard at the front of their line-up, the emergence of Kiely provided perhaps their most pleasant surprise.

Having the tall junior to compliment Hubbard made a huge difference in taking Springstead to a higher level.

On Sept. 9 at Silverthorn Country Club, he recorded a personal best nine-hole round of 37 in a match versus Nature Coast and Saddlebrook.

He shot a 79 to finish second to Hubbard (77) in the County Tournament. No one else shot lower than 81.

Though he struggled with an 84 in the 2A-6 Tournament, he bounced back to tie Hubbard with a 78 at the Region II Tournament at Middleburg's Eagle Landing Golf Course at the Oakleaf Plantation.

"He's an athlete," Long said. "His grandfather is a big influence on him. He taught him how to play. His grandfather supports him. So he's motivated to play golf. He quit the basketball team to play golf. That's how much he wanted to play golf.

"He's mechanically sound. A little robotic, not loose enough for my tastes, but it works for him. He's definitely consistent. He's got to increase his distance a little bit. He worked his way up from shooting in the low 40s into the 30s."

As for Long's own accolade, the fourth-year mentor was taken aback by the selection despite leading the Eagles to a 10-6-1 mark and unprecedented success.

"I don't deserve it," said Long, whose wife, Kathleen, won the same award for girls golf. "I'm just enjoying something I've always enjoyed all my life and that's golf. I'm getting a big kick out of it and I wouldn't give it up until I end up in a wheelchair.

"This (season) is the greatest enjoyment I've had since I learned to play myself."

Bears reload

For the first time in recent memory, Central didn't dominate the local scene. The Bears had a relatively young, inexperienced squad but still managed to advance to regionals.

The senior Berberette was the only returning player from last year's district champs, and tied Hubbard and Rule with a county-best round of 36.

He shot an 83 in the County Tournament, 84 at districts and 85 at regionals, showing consistency.

"He improved quite a bit," Morton said. "He peaked early in the year. He had an even-par 36. He hits it a long way."

Johnston, a junior, had a season-low of 39 and led Central in all three of the end of season events: 82 in county and districts, 81 at regionals.

"He averaged 35-40," Morton said. "He had a pretty good year. He has the potential to be a really good player. He has another year to see how he does. I'd be disappointed if he doesn't drop his average to 37 or better."

Rule was the only county player to make it out of the Class 1A, District 9 Tournament at The Dunes Golf Club, posting an 81.

The senior advanced to regionals for the second year in a row, shooting an 85 with a 40 on the back nine at the Gainesville Golf and Country Club. He also shot a third-place 81 at the County Tournament.

"It was a building year for him," Nature Coast Head Coach Tom Brown said. "He made a lot of swing changes. It paid off for him toward the end.

"All-in-all he's going to be a great player. What a great kid and he has a really great work ethic. I feel fortunate to have coached him."

The sophomore Teele provided the steadiest play down the stretch for the Leopards. He had team-lows of 82 at county and 87 at districts, and a season-best of 39.

"He was the most consistent," Hernando Head Coach Jessie Parkin said. "He always had the lowest scores consistently. Zack would shoot a consistent 40, sometimes 39, never above 42.

"...If he stays with it, which he will, by his senior year he should be shooting even par consistently. By the time he's a senior he should be number one in the county."

2008 HERNANDO TODAY ALL-COUNTY BOYS GOLF TEAM

Coaches of the Year: Sonny Long (Springstead)

Sports writer Chris Bernhardt Jr. can be reached at (352) 544-5288 or cbernhardt@hernandotoday.com.

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