The district golf tournaments start this week for various area programs. Lakewood Ranch's boys team is vying for an unprecedented fourth consecutive state championship, while local girls teams haven't claimed a team title since 2006 when the now-defunct Bradenton Prep accomplished the feat.
So here's a primer on the district tourneys:
Class 3A-District 14
Where: Misty Creek Country Club, Sarasota (boys), Mission
Valley Country Club, Nokomis (girls)
When: Monday starting at 8 a.m. (boys), Tuesday starting at
12:02 p.m. (girls)
Noteworthy: The Lakewood Ranch boys team, fresh off its record
fourth straight Donald Ross Memorial Invitational and seventh consecutive
Manatee County titles last week are the class of this district. On the girls
side, Manatee features sisters Gianna and Gabrielle Tomeo that led the
Hurricanes to a third place Ross showing. Venice, which won the Ross, is
favored to take home district hardware as hosts in Nokomis. Braden River is the
other area program competing.
Class 2A-District 19
Where: Golf Hammock Country Club, Sebring (boys and girls)
When: Tuesday starting at 9:27 a.m.
Noteworthy: The good news for area programs such as Palmetto
and Southeast is that this is the perceived weakest district among the three
featuring area programs. Bayshore, who has struggled to field enough players to
report a team score this fall, is also scheduled to compete. Sarasota Military
Academy’s boys team is favored to top the district. Other teams competing at
the Sebring course include Wauchula Hardee, Arcadia DeSoto and Sarasota Booker.
Class 1A-District 17
Where: Bent Tree Country Club, Sarasota (boys), Tatum Ridge
Golf Links, Sarasota (girls)
When: Monday starting at 10 a.m. (boys), Monday starting at
11:05 a.m. (girls)
Noteworthy: Saint Stephen’s finished fourth in the Ross and
second in last week’s county tournament. To boot, Saint Stephen’s Jack Cen
(runner-up at Ross, county individual champ) is peaking at the right time.
Bradenton Christian’s Philip Knowles should compete for an individual spot if
the Panthers don’t qualify as a team. Sarasota Christian, runners up in the
Ross, is a district title contending team. Saint Stephen’s girls team,
featuring sisters Michelle and Vanessa Yan, came close to repeating as Ross
champs – falling nine shots shy of Class 3A Venice – and are favored to win.
Michelle Yan captured the individual title. Cardinal Mooney and Out-of-Door
Academy round out area programs in the field.