Two of the best girls golfers in Pinellas County have been declared ineligible to continue playing on their schools' boys teams.
Seminole's Brittany Lincicome and Palm Harbor University's Courtney Harter played half of the season in violation of a Florida High School Athletic Association rule that says girls cannot play on boys teams if there is an existing girls team at the school.
The girls must forfeit the matches they have played with the boys, and their scores will be removed from their team totals. Without Lincicome's scores, Seminole remains undefeated, and one of PHU's ties becomes a loss.
Lincicome is a senior who always has played with the boys because in the past, her schools did not offer a girls team. Although this is Seminole's first year with a full girls team, Lincicome competed at the state level as an individual and won the state title last year.
Harter, a freshman, tried out and made both PHU teams and decided to play with the boys. Although PHU has one of the largest girls teams in the county, Harter said she believed there would be more of a challenge with the boys. She had earned a season-long starting spot with the Hurricanes.
The Pinellas County Athletic Association was made aware of a "possible infraction" last week, county athletic director Walter Weller said. After confirming the teams were in FHSAA violation, Weller informed the schools the girls no longer could play for the boys teams and should they continue to compete, they must do so with the girls.
Weller said the PCAC reported itself to the FHSAA and Seminole and PHU were to have submitted their infractions in writing Monday. Weller said he sought guidance from the FHSAA to ensure the teams would be in compliance.
The FHSAA has not taken action, but further punishment could be forthcoming.
"I hope that because we did admit our flaw, they'll be more lenient to us," Weller said. "We're not trying to hide anything."
Lincicome said she didn't know she was doing anything wrong. The sixth-ranked junior in the country, Lincicome said playing with the boys makes her work harder. While she said she would rather play with the boys, she doesn't mind playing full time for the girls team.
"It doesn't matter," Lincicome said. "I don't have a problem playing with the girls. Whatever I have to do to get back to state."
The problem most likely was spurred by what Weller called a misinterpretation of how girls golf is classified by the county.
"FHSAA policy and Pinellas County Athletic Conference policy conflict," Weller said. "Our county wasn't recognizing girls golf."
But the state recognized girls teams in Pinellas County. Weller said the mistake was an honest one because the schools didn't know they were breaking a rule.
For many years, county coaches have understood girls golf was not a recognized sport. The teams did not receive funding from the PCAC. Coaches were parents or local pros who volunteered, and often, scheduling was not done by the paid boys golf coaches, but the volunteers.
"All the coaches in Pinellas considered it an after-school activity," PHU girls coach Phyllis Lewellyn said.
Many coaches and athletic directors were under the same impression. Therefore, PHU boys coach Brent League said he didn't see the harm in allowing Harter on the boys team. If Pinellas County didn't recognize girls golf, then technically, there was no girls team, he said.
Seminole coach Steve Hoff said he checked with his athletic director at the beginning of the year to make sure Lincicome could play for the girls and boys, and he got the green light.
Weller said those policies are in the process of being changed.
"Girls golf is a sport," Weller said. "It's going to be treated differently."
Lincicome will play the rest of the year for the girls team. Harter, who was consistently shooting the No. 3 or 4 scores, will practice with the boys but not play for the girls.
"I really appreciate the chance I got and the opportunity to play with the boys," Harter said. "This has made me a better golfer."
League said the ordeal is sad for the kids who have had their teams disrupted.
"They don't think the ruling is fair," said League, who informed his team before practice Monday. "From Day 1, they've all been incredibly supportive."
But he said he found one positive effect from the situation. Girls golf now is a recognized sport in Pinellas County.
