Red Devils Swing Past Blue Streaks

Avon Park sophomore Greg Gentry overcame windy conditions and some tough pin placements to shoot a 1-over 37 to lead the Avon Park boys golf tema to a victory over Sebring and LaBelle in boys golf on Thursday at Sun 'N Lake Country Club.

Gentry's 37 earned medalist honors, senior Austin Smith carded a 40, junior Clay Davis had a 41 and sophomore Ryan Tracey shot a 42 to give Avon Park a team score of 160 over the demanding back nine on the Deer Run course.

Sebring was led by Aaron Walkup's 40, senior Zach Foster had a 41, junior Blake Liles turned in a 43 as did Tyler Sanders for a team score of 167.

LaBelle was a distant third with a 219.

The two wins improved the Red Devils to 5-2 on the season.

"Those are some good scores considering how windy it was," said Avon Park coach Bobby Barben. "Greg has been swinging the club well and is keeping the ball in play.

"Deer Run is a good test of golf and I'm pleased with how the guys played. We had played two bad matches in a row and it was good to see us bounce back with a solid day."

The loss dropped the Blue Streaks to 3-2 on the season.

"We didn't play well," said first-year Sebring coach Vince Liles. "We had a couple of meltdowns on our own course and it cost us. "It was windy, but our mistakes were more mental than physical.

"We had no course management at all."

Sebring travels to Orlando today for the First Academy Invitational at Metrowest, while Avon Park is back in action on Monday with a match at Lake Wales.

NOTE: The Sebring girls match against Haines City was cancelled. They're back in action on Tuesday against Bartow at Highlands Ridge North.