Local Teams Step Up To Tee

With the entire season riding on one round, the Sebring girls golf team is happy those 18 holes are being played in the Streaks' own backyard.

"We know this course like the back of our hand," said Tom McClurg, whose Sebring girls host 12 teams at the Class 2A-District 9 golf tournament this morning at Sebring Golf Club. "We should be comfortable out there, and that's big."

And so are the tee shots of the Sebring boys team, which heads to Bridgewater Golf Club in Lakeland this morning to battle the wind with hopes of sealing a spot at regionals, which open play on Oct. 22.
"This is a Jekyll-Hyde course," said Blue Streak boys coach John Snyder. "It can be real friendly, but if the weather stirs, it can bite you."

The same can't be said for the track hosting Lake Placid and Avon Park, whose boys and girls teams head to The Bluffs Golf Club in Arcadia for the Class 1A-District 16 tournament this morning.
With perfect conditions forecasted, the true challenge is expected to come from the course itself, and particularly its last five holes, according to AP boys coach Bobby Barben.

"The front side is pretty straightaway, but the backside has some of the trickiest holes I've ever seen," Barben said. "There's no place to hit driver, so we'll need to play smart."

The top three teams and top three individuals not on advancing teams will move on to the regional tournament, something both Sebring clubs are hoping to contend for: Two regional tournaments will be played in Sebring, with the Region 3 girls tourney slated for Oct. 23 at Sebring Municipal and the Region 3 boys tourney being played on Oct. 22 at Sun 'N Lakes Golf Club.

McClurg said his girls, led by Heather Brownell, Julianne Lind, Priscilla Adams and Kayla Dunn, are getting their games together at the right time.

"The last two matches, the confidence has been there, and that's really what it's all about," said McClurg, whose Streaks won the district title last year. "All five of our girls are playing well, and that's our strong suit -- other teams may have a couple girls who can break into the 70s, but we have five girls who can shoot in the 80s, and that's really our secret weapon."

Snyder said the undulated, links-style Bridgewater course suits the Streaks just fine, especially big hitters Aaron Snyder, Zach Foster and Blake Liles.

"There's not a lot of trees out there, so there's not much that can stop the wind," Coach Snyder said. "We come off the tee pretty well, so if the wind picks up, we'll have the advantage."