Winter Haven, Monteleone, McKeel, Hancock, Castillo win golf districts
LAKELAND ― It doesn’t matter to Winter Haven senior golfer Anthony Monteleone that he is the fifth-ranked high school boys’ golfer in the state. Each and every competition, he goes into it with the mentality of getting better.
This attitude propelled him to a second district championship at the Club at Eaglebrooke in Lakeland on Tuesday. The Ledger’s two-time Player of the Year shot a 70, ultimately vanquishing his competition.
Other top golfers in the Class 3A, District 8 Tournament were the following: Winter Haven junior Tyler Loftus (2nd place, score: 76), George Jenkins sophomore Grayson Abbott (2nd, 76), Winter Haven senior James Aguilar (4th, 77), George Jenkins sophomore Andrew Sagnella (5th, 78), Winter Haven senior Camden Butler (8th, 79), George Jenkins sophomore Daniel Kaufmann (9th, 80) and George Jenkins senior Freddie Heid (10th, 81).
The top two individuals who are not part of the overall team winner or the runner-up advance to region. You can also advance to region if you are top two and are a part of the overall winner and, one can advance by being a wildcard.
“I’m pretty proud. I’m really proud that the team is playing pretty good,” Monteleone said. I wish I could have played a little better. But I played well enough to get the job done. I definitely have to go work on some things. I just got to keep grinding at it, keep playing and hopefully I have a couple good days.”
En route to having another good day, the only adversity that Monteleone had to face was the greens and the wind that made the ball roll faster.
“It was hard to keep the ball low. I hit a lot of good shots. (But) it was tough,” he said.
The senior’s adjustment was that he kept the ball under the wind, which meant smooth sailing for the rest of the match.
He also said that the arduous practicing of his putting has really helped him in districts and really throughout the entire year. He said he attributes this development to golf coach Tony Brabner — a coach he practices with every Wednesday.
Team-wise, Winter Haven won another district championship. The Blue Devils have won districts twice since James has been the coach. Placing second was George Jenkins with a 315 score, while Lakeland was fifth with a 353. The top two teams from each district as well as some wildcards advance to regionals,
“All I ask is (for) these guys to do their best, and everything will take care of themselves. That’s it,” Winter Haven head golf coach Charlie James said.
In girls’ action, The Ledger’s two-time Girls’ Golfer of the Year, Kathleen senior Darby Hancock, placed first with a 68 — her best score of the school year.
“Hit 16 of 18 greens and really only missed one drive,” Hancock said. “Certainly, (it) helped that it was my home course, so I was very comfortable. Looking forward to the region tournament. I’ve played well there in the past and hope to continue my solid play and get back to state.”
Meanwhile, the following made the top five: Lakeland sophomore Elizabeth Hall (3rd, 88) and Lakeland junior Madison Templeton (5th, 90).
Lakeland as a team placed second with a 379, while George Jenkins was third (440), Bartow was fourth (481) and Ridge Community finished fifth (519).
Bustos is crowned in Class 2A, District 9 action
For Class 2A, District 9 competition, McKeel senior Ava Bustos was the best at Cyrpesswood Golf & Country Club on Monday thanks to a 78.
Her teammates placed in the top six, including freshman Georgia Grace Spence (2nd, 81), junior Caroline DeKalb (3rd, 84), freshman Diya Kavalackal (3rd, 84) and senior Carly McKnight (6th, 93).
“I’m glad I could finish my last high school golf districts with a win,” Bustos said. “I struggled on the front nine, but turned it around on the back nine and finished with a 3-shot lead.”
Auburndale senior Chole Durden was seventh with a 106.
In team action, McKeel achieved another district championship thanks to a team score of 327, while Lake Wales placed third with a 489.
“Great overall team effort and really looking forward to regionals where we will see some teams that we have not played before since the regions were recently changed,” McKeel head golf coach Jeremy Bohnenstiehl said.
On the boys’ side, Auburndale junior Bayden Williams was the highest placing Polk County golfer thanks to a second-place finish with a 74.
Other Polk golfers who placed in the top 10 in districts are the following: McKeel junior Brock Spurgeon (3rd, 77), Auburndale junior Landon Allen (6th, 83) and Auburndale senior Austin Newbern (9th, 85).
All Saints’ Green bests comp in Class 1, District 9 golf
As for Class 1A, District 9 boys’ action, All Saints sophomore Barrett Green was top dog thanks to a 74.
Other Polk players in the top 10 are Fort Meade senior Elijah Harrell (2nd, 75), Lakeland Christian senior Gray Ottman (third, 76), Lakeland Christian freshman Parker Marshall (3rd, 76), Frostproof seventh grader Jordan Castillo (5th, 79), Frostproof freshman Liam McCann (7th, 80), All Saints senior Reagan Williams (8th, 81) and Frostproof junior Jay Griffiths (9th, 82).
For team action, Lakeland Christian was the best with a 329, while Frostproof (2nd, 333), All Saints Academy (3rd, 335) and Fort Meade (4th, 338) rounded out the top five Polk County teams.
And on the girls’ side, Frostproof freshman Hannah Castillo was first with a 73.
Others in the top ten were Santa Fe freshman Leonie Tavares (second, 79), Lakeland Christian junior Taylor Logan (3rd, 86), Frostproof seventh-grader Zoe Hout (4th, 89), All Saints freshman Sydney Rasnake (5th, 93), Frostproof freshman Ava Griffiths (6th, 95), Frostproof freshman Brooke Fann (7th, 96), Lakeland Christian freshman Kerrigan Cooper (8th, 99), Lakeland Christian junior Annsley Greene (8th, 99) and Lakeland Christian sophomore Amelia Pearce (10th, 108).
Finally, on the team side, Frostproof was first (353), Lakeland Christian placed second (392) and Santa Fe Catholic culminated third (+133).
Polk County regionals will begin Monday next week.
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