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Sebring Girls Swing Into Regionals

Courtesy photo/Highlands Today

Sebring's Camiel White blasts out of the bunker during Monday's Class 2A-District 9 golf tournament at Sebring Golf Club.

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By Mark  Pinson | Highlands Today

Published: October 16, 2007

The Sebring High School girls golf team has had one goal since the beginning of the season: Make it to state.

After winning Monday's Class 2A-District 9 golf tournament by 13 shots, the Blue Streaks are one step closer to their goal.

Sebring shot a four-person score of 359 with senior Heather Brownell leading the way with an 81, senior Kayla Dunn shooting an 89, senior Julianne Lind carding a 92 and junior Priscilla Adams rounding out the scoring with a 97.

"It means a lot to win the district championship, especially since it's my last year," Brownell said. "I think we can make it to state, that's been our goal all year, but we have to come together as a team and play well at regional."

Brownell, who had nines of 39-42, said the windy conditions didn't bother her that much.
"The wind wasn't that bad," the Blue Streak linkster said. "It bothered me the most on my approach shots into the greens.

"I just focused on keeping the ball in play and played one shot at a time."

George Jenkins of Lakeland placed second with a score of 372 and Celebration came in third at 402 to round out the other teams advancing to next week's regional tournament, which will be hosted by Sebring at Sebring Golf Club.

M.J. Audette of Jenkins was district medalist with a 3-over 75, while Celebration's Lauren Bennetti placed second with a 79 and Anna Hancock of Jenkins finished third at 81.

The top four individuals not on winning teams also advanced to regional play.

Bartow's Jake Horne qualified with an 83, while Lakeland's Gretchen Gordin shot a 100 and Lakeland's Julia Berger qualified with a 102.

Sebring's first-year coach Tom McClurg was pleased with winning the district title.

"It's nice to finish first," he said. "The girls played well considering how windy it was. Heather had a steady round and Kayla and Julianne came back with solid back nines.

"These girls don't quit and that's what I love about them."

With next week's regional competition at their local course, the Blue Streaks hold quite an advantage over the field. They'll need it: Only the top two teams advance to the state tournament.

"This is our home course and we know it better than anybody," McClurg said. "But we're going to have to play better than we did today.

"Two-time defending state champion Lake Howell will be here and so will Olympia, but our girls have the ability to play with them, they just have to have confidence and believe in themselves."

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