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Panthers make most of their opportunity

TAMPA -- The level of competition among the Class 2A, District 9 girls is not as strong as in the past, and that's a good thing, according to some who advanced after Monday's tournament.

With Chamberlain's Mallory Code and Brooke Layton out of the picture, a path was cleared for Plant to take the title with 362. Wharton finished second with 438, and Armwood (474) and Gaither (493) qualify for the regional tournament in third and fourth place.

"This is our best placing, even though our team score was lower last year," Wharton senior Anne Vogler said. "The competition was just so good last year, but this is nice. It lets other girls shine."

Vogler had the best finish for Wharton, third best overall, shooting 86. Gaither junior Ashley Kemp won the individual district title with 77.

"Not a great day, but a good day," Kemp said. "We're going to regionals. That's a surprise ... We have a whole new team this year and a lot of new golfers."

Plant's five all placed in the top 10, with Cindy Lacrosse (84), in second place overall, leading the way for Laura Perrone (88), Mallory Parsons (93), Kelly Betts (97) and Kim Andrew (101). Four individuals whose teams didn't advance made it on their own: Sickles' Amanda Eichman shot 94, Chamberlain's Chelsea Hughes 107, Sickle's Nina Mock 127 and Chamberlain's Ashley Miller 133 to earn regional berths.

Chamberlain, Sickles, Alonso, Tampa Bay Tech, Blake, Jefferson, King and Leto did not finish the tournament as teams.

Medalist honors go to an exhausted Smilnak

TAMPA -- Lara Smilnak thought for sure it was going to be a long day when she finished her first nine holes 6 over par. She was midway through her third 18-hole round in three days, she was tired and, as she put it, "just couldn't hit it straight."

It was shaping up to be a long day.

But the Clearwater Central Catholic junior battled the woods and water at Westchase Golf Course to struggle in with a back-nine 38 for 81. One of the first to finish, Smilnak waited for someone to post a lower score.

She needn't have bothered waiting.

Smilnak's 9-over held up, and she left the Class A, District 10 tournament the medalist, beating Andrea Messer from Indian Rocks Christian by two strokes.

"I played in a tournament this weekend, and I was exhausted today," Smilnak said. "But my timing was on. My goal was to shoot in the 70s. I've been playing so much lately I thought I might have a chance at that."

She didn't get that low, but she got low enough to help lead the Marauders to a third-place finish and one of four spots in the regional tournament Monday at Sebring Municipal Golf Club.

Indian Rocks Christian won team honors with 376 and was followed by Berkeley Prep (389), CCC (486) and Academy of the Holy Names (486). The four individual qualifiers were Sarah Levant from Tampa Prep with 92, Freedom's Shannon Roque (99), Erin Craig from Cambridge Prep (101) and Jenny Adzima from Calvary Christian (104).

-- MIKE READLING

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