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Mitchell Girls Win, Get Bad News
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Published: October 15, 2008
HUDSON - Mitchell girls golf coach Joe Castellano missed the trophy presentation at the Class 2A-District 12 tournament Tuesday at the Meadow Oaks Golf and Country Club.
While his players were accepting the first-place trophy, Castellano was on the phone with the Florida High School Athletic Association trying to find out why his school wasn't listed on the FHSAA Web site as the host school for next week's region tournament.
Castellano, whose Mustangs posted a 313 score to win the district against East Lake (347) and Clearwater (379), had faxed the proper documents to the FHSAA two months ago to host the Region 4 tournament at Mitchell's home course - Heritage Springs in Tarpon Springs.
But East Lake coach Andrea Panarelli commented to Castellano as the final groups were finishing that the FHSAA Web site has Wharton listed as host school and the tournament at Heritage Isles in New Tampa.
"The FHSAA says they never received my fax," a visibly upset Castellano said. "Disappointed doesn't begin to describe how I feel about this. I'm really irritated. The FHSAA is always looking for hosts and they lost my application. I guarantee I will never offer to host again."
Although Mitchell won't get to play the region on its home course, the Mustangs still should be a contender to advance to the state tournament.
Led by the Van Etten sisters, Mitchell won by 34 strokes. Junior Megan fired a 34-32-66 (4 under par) while freshman Rebecca carded a 34-35-69 (1 under). In last week's Sunshine Athletic Conference tournament, Megan shot 63 and Rebecca a 67.
"There was less wind last week and I putted awesome last week," said Megan, who shot 90 in last year's district. "Today, I was chipping really well, but I couldn't make some of the putts."
Megan had five birdies and two bogeys. Both bogeys were on the front nine.
Rebecca, playing in her first district tournament, ran into some problems on the back nine, with three of her four bogeys but she made it up with three birdies.
"It was fun. I had fun out there today," Rebecca said. "I'm happy with my score. It was a little windy out there, but wasn't that bad."
Emma Fivecoat (88) and Nina Argento (90) rounded out the Mustangs' scoring.
Gulf's Bailey Logan advanced to the region tournament for the fourth consecutive year as her 77 was the third-best score posted of those golfers not advancing on a team. When Clearwater posted its 379, the Tornadoes earned a spot as a team, which included Brittany Gaunt's 74. Had Clearwater not advanced as a team, Logan's season would have been done.
River Ridge (383) and Gulf (420) were the other Pasco County team scores. Ridgewood's fourth golfer didn't play, so the Rams didn't have enough golfers to qualify as a team.
Other individuals advancing to next Monday's region are Palm Harbor's Jasmine Wade (72) and Justine Knox of Dunedin (73).
Rick Harmon
Mustangs, Padova, Koos Advance In 2A-12 Boys
DUNEDIN - It wasn't the score that Mitchell coach Rick Hyatt wanted, but it sure was the result.
On a difficult golf course, with difficult conditions against a talented field in the Class 2A-District 12 Tournament, Mitchell again showed it's not just a Pasco County power, but a Tampa Bay-area power.
The Mustangs finished tied for third in one of the toughest district tournaments in the area, firing 321 at the historic Dunedin Country Club to advance to next week's Region 4 tournament at Wentworth.
Kenny Cavender led the way with a 2-over par 74, spending most of the afternoon under par until a bogey-double bogey finish. But it was still good enough for third place overall.
Isaac Schaefer had 79, Chaz Heinz 83, and Sterling Bash an 85.
For the second week in a row, Bash's score put the Mustangs over the top - last week he clinched the Sunshine Athletic Conference title at Silverado.
"I was looking for a 300, 305, but these were tough conditions with the wind," Hyatt said Monday. "Kenny's been doing it all year, Isaac posted a really good score and Chaz had an off day. I expect him to bounce back next week.
"And what can you say about Sterling? He's been clutch."
Bash's score knocked Ridgewood (323) out of the top three, but it still advanced two players - Jordan Padova (76) and Jeff Koos (78) as individuals.
Padova's round was highlighted by an eagle 2 at the 335-yard, par-4 12th hole. He hit a lob wedge from 75 yards into the hole on the fly.
"That was nice," said Padova, who advanced to regionals for the first time in this, his senior year. "I was fighting my swing a little bit all day. I'm happy I'm going, though it's disappointing that the whole team didn't make it."
Koos had a triple bogey on his second hole, but bounced back with three birdies on his front nine.
"I feel good, making it this year. I did what I set out to do from the beginning," Koos said. "I'm a better 18-hole player than a nine-hole player, and my short game has really improved."
Bart O'Connell
Zephyrhills Joins Saddlebrook Pair In Region
WESLEY CHAPEL - Zephyrhills coach Richard Green had a big reason to feel fortunate after Tuesday's Class 1A-District 9 girls tournament.
"Thank goodness Saddlebrook Prep only had three girls," Green said.
That's because the Bulldogs, perennially behind Saddlebrook and Inverness Citrus the past few seasons, finished runner-up in the tournament with a score of 444, advancing to next week's Region 3 tournament as a team, while host Saddlebrook did not post the mandatory four-player team score.
Citrus (351) took the title and Saddlebrook qualified two players to regionals - medalist Ankita Tiwana (73) and Lauren Riehle (81) as individuals.
Green called this year's squad the "best we've ever had." Sarah Baniszewski led the Bulldogs with a 99, followed by Laurren McLeod (100), Taylor Brady (120) and Megan Huppert (125).
It was a bittersweet day for Saddlebrook coach Mike Tali, whose team had advanced to regionals and contended for a state title every year since 1996, when they also didn't have enough players to qualify. The player most affected was senior Mika Ikemoto, who finished fifth overall with an 83, but failed to qualify for regionals when Hernando's Lauren Shuford posted a 79.
To put it in perspective, of the 15 players on the three teams that qualified for regionals, 14 had scores higher than Ikemoto.
"Is it disappointing? You bet it is," Tali said. "I know Mika's very disappointed. She played good enough to win and make it, but she couldn't bring it home."
Tiwana's 3-over par 73 included birdies at Nos. 17 (her second hole of the day) and 10. She hit her irons consistently well, but was frustrated with several missed short putts. The senior, originally from India, hopes to play collegiately in the Northeast or California, but she has not looked into specific schools.
"My irons were working 100 percent," Tiwana said. "My putting? I don't want to talk about it."
Tali believes Tiwana and Riehle have a strong chance to make the state finals as individuals.
Bart O'Connell
Springstead Takes 2A-8 Title At Eagle Ridge
BELLEVIEW - Josh Barnett managed to avoid getting blown away by the wind Monday. The Land O' Lakes senior struggled, but shot a 79 in the Class 2A-District 6 boys golf tournament at Eagle Ridge Country Club.
Barnett shot well enough to earn a berth in the Class 2A regional Monday in Middleburg.
"From the start, I was striking the ball well," Barnett said. "I like playing in the wind. I seem to concentrate more. There were just a couple of bad mistakes. I had a couple of bogies and a birdie. I shot a 75 last year."
Springstead finished first in team standings with a score of 318, followed by Lecanto (331) and Brooksville Central (338). Springstead's Kevin Hubbard was medalist with a 73.
The top three individuals not on a qualifying team, who advanced to regionals, were Jay King of Lake Weir (75), Tyler White of Belleview (81) and Barnett.
Wesley Chapel was three points away from qualifying as a team for the regionals, scoring 340.
"I think we shot about as well as or better than I expected, especially under the conditions of the wind," said Wesley Chapel coach Allan Black. "The wind was tough. The kids played pretty well. We shot 340. I'm pretty well satisfied. Three forty is under our average."
Larry Bugg
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