West Orange Takes Title

Some of the top boy's and girl's high school golf programs in the state came to Sebring on Monday for the annual Crutchfield/Hawkins Invitational.

The boy's tournament attracted a record 46 teams, which competed at Sun 'N Lake Country Club on the Deer Run and Turtle Run courses.

West Orange (Orlando) won the tournament played on Deer Run with a four-person, 18-hole score of 292, Circle Christian placed second with a 297, Orlando Bishop Moore and Gainesville Bucholz tied for third at 298 and Jacksonville Fletcher finished fifth with a 305.

T.J. Vogel of American Heritage won medalist honors with a 4-under-par 68, Circle Christian's Michael Hebert came in second with a 69 and Andrew Slaton of Bucholz finished third with a 70.

Sebring had a 333 total and was led by junior Blake Liles, who shot a 77, senior Zach Foster had an 83, sophomore Tyler Sanders came in with an 86 and John Vicker Jr. rounded out the Blue Streak scoring with an 87.

"This is a great tournament with one of the strongest fields you'll ever see," said first-year Sebring coach Vince Liles. "We didn't shoot our best, but playing with these kinds of talented players is a great experience for our kids.

"We'll learn from this and it should help us not be intimidated come the district tournament."

Avon Park also competed on Deer Run and the Red Devils had a team score of 362.

Sophomore Greg Gentry carded a 76, junior Clay Davis came in with an 82, junior Evan Danzey had a 92 and sophomore Ryan Tracey rounded out the Avon Park scoring with a 112.

"We did not play well as a team," said veteran Red Devil coach Bobby Barben. "We weren't at full strength, but some of our kids just had a total meltdown. "There were a lot of good teams in the tournament, but we can't be intimidated when we play with better players and hopefully, this experience will help us down the road.

"We've got to get back to the practice range and work on getting our confidence back."

Northside Christian won the Turtle Run tournament with a score of 310, Kings Academy placed second with a 315, Circle Christian came in third at 327, Jacksonville Fletcher shot a 328 and Haines City had a 336.

Hardee, which competed on Turtle Run, shot a 352.

Gus Myers of Northside Christian won medalist honors with a 72, Trey Rule of Kings Academy placed second at 74 and Caleb Howland of Providence came in third with a 75.

The girl's tournament, which attracted 18 teams, was held at Highlands Ridge North and American Heritage won the Division 1 tournament with a 282 and Lake Howell placed second with a 291.Kyle Roig of Heritage was medalist with a 65 and Lake Howell's Carlie Yadloczky came in second with a 66.

Providence won the Division 2 tournament with a 339, while Olympia came in second with a 349.

Kaitlyn Price of Providence was medalist with a 72 and Anna Hancock of George Jenkins placed second with a 75.

Sebring had a team total of 430 and was led by freshman Lindsey Lovett's 95.

Junior Camiel White had a 97, freshman Savanna Fisher carded a 107 and Kelsie Allen rounded out the Blue Streak scoring with a 131.

"Our scores weren't quite as good as they've been," said first-year Sebring coach Jeff Hendges. "It was extremely hot and the girls did the best the could against some very talented golfers.

"We'll use this as a learning experience and do better the next time."