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Durant misses goal, but sits third at state

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By RICK HARMON

Tribune correspondent

Published: November 4, 2009

OCALA - Before every match, Durant girls golf coach Dick Sheffield comes up with a goal score and gives it to each of his golfers.

On Tuesday, at the Class 2A girls state tournament at the Ocala Golf Club, a couple of bad breaks kept the Cougars from reaching their Day 1 goal, but they were still good enough for third place after first 18 holes.

"I had 325 as our goal for (Tuesday). I figured 325 wouldn't win state, but it would keep us in the hunt. It was close. A couple shots here or there and we would have been close. You can always go back on a round and say, 'I could have done this or I could have done that.' Now we move on to the next (round)."

The Cougars, led by sophomore Madison Opfer and junior Erika Wardzinski's even-par 72s, totaled 328 and trail only Lake Mary (311) and Melbourne Viera (320). Other Cougars scores were Kerrie Reinhardt's 86, Olivia Higgins' 98 and Lauren Hirschey's 101.

Mitchell, the other local team to advance in girls 2A, struggled and is tied for sixth (343) with Orlando Timber Creek. This is Mitchell's first appearance in the state tournament since 2002.

The Mustangs' No. 1 and 2 players, sisters Megan and Rebecca VanEtten, joined a long list of players who struggled on the fast greens and shot 79 and 80, respectively. Victoria Kenny (88), Emma Fivecoat (96) and Kristen Pitts (103) completed Mitchell's scoring.

Individually, Melbourne Viera's Olivia Lugar shot a 3-under 69 to claim medalist honors for the day. Kelsey Gibson of King is 14th after her 75, while St. Petersburg's Shane Crutchfield (76) is tied for 15th and Dunedin's Justine Knox (79) is tied for 25t{+h}.

2A boys

At The Country Club at Silver Springs Shores, Palm Harbor (303) is tied for fifth and East Lake (304) is eighth. Palm Harbor's Matt Cote is tied for sixth individually after shooting a 2-under 70. Linzy Clark led East Lake with a 69.

Individual qualifiers Austin Padova of Ridgewood (79), St. Petersburg's Michael Maguire (79) and Wharton's Paul Demick (80) are well off the pace set by James Monnerville of Vero Beach, who carded a 66.

1A girls

Steinbrenner's Alex Milan said she wasn't able to get consistency out of her drives on the opening day of the state tournament at Golden Hills in Ocala. The junior finished the day at 6-over 78, tied for 22nd place.

"I kind of hit my driver all over the place," Milan said.

While Milan wasn't able to get comfortable with her driver on the first day of the 36-hole tournament, she said she felt as though she worked out some problems with her swing in a post-round session at the driving range.

Milan did have some positives, notching three birdies and having a strong putting day.

Academy of the Holy Names shot 360 as a team for 10th place. The Jaguars were led by eighth-graders Emmy Martin (81, tied for 27th) and Mariah Diaz (86).

Jarrett Guthrie

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