OLDSMAR — Before Tuesday’s Class 2A-11 district tournament, East Lake coach Terry O’Reilly knew Mitchell would likely be the team to beat.
He was right on the money. Mitchell shot 307 thanks to 3-over 75 from Dylan Strout and 76 from Donnie Gabrelcik to win the tournament on the par-72 South Course. East Lake slipped into second place with 314 and Palm Harbor University was third (316).
All three teams advance to the region tournament Monday at Cypress Run Golf Club in Tarpon Springs.
“Mitchell is playing so well right now,” O’Reilly said. “I think we’re playing a little scared. We have a lot of seniors who don’t want this to be their last tournament.”
The Eagles’ best score was 76 from Sebastian Hilpl. Parker Fox and Tyler Dierwechter each shot 79s and Steve Aebersold shot 80.
The Mustangs counted four scores in the 70s. Aside from Strout and Gabrelcik, James Pittman and Anthony Swinford chipped in with 78s.
Although Strout had already qualified for regionals, he was still in a three-way playoff for medalist honors. He won the first playoff hole to win.
“I was feeling pretty good out there,” Strout said. “I was finally making some putts. I didn’t think 75 would be good enough to win, but it was pretty tough out there. I think our whole team is feeling pretty good right now. We’re peaking at the right time.”
Three individuals also move on from teams not already advancing. Mike Stewart of River Ridge and Donald Wasoff of Countryside shot 75s. Jay Dixon of Countryside and Matt Prenderville of Wiregrass Ranch each shot 76s and had a playoff, which Dixon won with par on the first hole.
“My goal was to get a 76 or better,” Wasoff said. “The wind was pretty strong out there so it was tough to score. What helped me was that I made a lot of long par putts.”
Palm Harbor University earned the third team spot thanks to Brent Hajian (77), Eric Amend (78) and Sean Fromme (79).
Countryside finished fourth with 326.
Girls: Coe's win leads PHU
TRINITY — Lauren Coe shot 1-under-par 70 as the individual medalist, leading Palm Harbor University to the Class 2A, District 11 tournament title at Heritage Springs.
Coe, a University of North Florida commit, had five birdies including three on the back nine.
“Phenomenal,” is how Hurricanes coach John Baker described Coe’s play. “She’s got it going on. She’s just an all-around great player.”
PHU finished with 322, well ahead of runnerup and defending champion Mitchell, which tallied 373. Wiregrass Ranch (384) rounded out the top three.
Also advancing regionals are the top three individuals not from the top three teams. That trio includes Sunlake’s Kelly Harris (76), along with Countryside teammates Erin Williamson (77) and Sarah Oliver (91).
Consistency marked the Hurricanes’ play as three players — Ryan Pierce, Charley Majeski and Perrianne D’Amico — finishing with rounds of 84.
“They’re strong. They were consistent throughout,” Baker said of his golfers who prepared for districts by playing in an 18-hole tournament last week at Sebring.
Consistency also marked the play of the host Mustangs, who were led by Lindsey Ritchey’s 90. Ashley Richardson was not far behind at 93 while Shyanne Dove and Alexa Oglesby tied at 95.
Leading the third-place Bulls was Heather Muse, who came in with 82.
2A-12: Maguire's day bolstered by Green Devils teammates
SEMINOLE — It was a quiet 69, completed ahead of nearly the entire field, that put St. Petersburg’s Jack Maguire into the Seminole Lake clubhouse with a two-stroke lead in the Class 2A, District 12 tournament.
Maguire hit long drives, but stiffed some short putts. And after struggling through the front nine, he rallied with two birdies down the stretch, including one on the 18th hole.
“It was a good score, but I thought I could have done better,” Maguire said. “I left some shots out there. I thought I’d do a little better after shooting so well this past weekend.”
At the St. Augustine Amateur, Maguire shot 71-68-68 to win by five strokes at 3-under-par 207.
His score Tuesday was good enough for individual honors, but it was his teammates who really turned some heads. Jake Kevorkian and Blake Dyer each shot 71 and Zack Monawar shot 83. As a team, the Green Devils finished with 290 to beat Northeast by 25 strokes.
The Vikings were led by a trio who shot in the 70s, Austin Stephens (74), Kyle Kubala (75) and Carson Wolf (77). The other boys team to advance was Seminole, which shot 321. The Warhawks’ top two golfers were Eric Sines (74) and Reese Warden (79).
Clearwater’s August Cook (75), Keith Kochenour (77) and Ryan Sweet advanced as individuals.
On the girls side, Osceola’s Haydyn Gibson won the individual title with 74, which tied her previous season best at the Mustang Invitational.
Gibson turned it on midway through her round with three birdies and eagle on Nos. 11-14.
“I’ve played practice rounds here before so I was familiar with the course,” she said. “I was hoping to get right around the score that I had. My goal is to shoot 71 in the next few weeks.”
Teammate Ally Franzese shot 86. The Warriors, who had the only full girls team, advanced with 367. The three individuals who advanced were Seminole’s Liana Grantges (81), St. Petersburg’s Mariana Ocano (86) and Northeast’s Hayley Betz (95).
Staff writer Bob Putnam and correspondent Steve Lee contributed to this report.