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When Lecanto coach Doug Warren wanted to schedule a late-season match against a top-notch opponent, he called Gainesville Buchholz. The Bobcats, a regular at the state tournament, are the measuring stick for teams in this neck of the woods.
The squads played last week and Lecanto lost by 15 strokes, but Warren hardly was discouraged.
"That's obviously the best team we've played," Warren said. "I think we did well."
That might be a good sign.
Lecanto (9-1), which recently won the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference title, competes in the Class 2A, District 3 tournament Tuesday at Ocala Golf Club. The top four squads advance to regionals.
"Our scores are coming down at the right time," Warren said. "We're starting to play at our average or a little below it, which is nice. That's what you need to do at tourney time."
Senior Anne Kizer, Lecanto's captain and top player, has a county-best 39 average. She was 1-over-par against Buchholz and appears capable of making a run at individual district honors. Kizer was all-area last year and has dropped her average by five shots. She shot 89 at districts and 88 at regionals last fall.
"Anne has been very consistent for us," Warren said. "She's really our team leader in more ways than just her average. She's the team captain and keeps the girls going at practice."
The Panthers also have gotten solid production from Kari Amundson, Carly Lewis and Christina Saia. Each consistently breaks 50. Freshman Carla Savage has made strides.
"Our top four are strong," Warren said. "They all had at least one or two rounds of 45 this season, and they can do better."
TWO'S COMPANY: Citrus' hopes of advancing in Monday's A-6 tournament at Saddlebrook Golf Club in Wesley Chapel may rest with senior Kristin Klauder and junior Kirsten Engel. Klauder leads the Hurricanes with a 44 average; Engel is next at 45.
Klauder shot 2-over in a match last week and helped Citrus place second at the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference tournament with an 85. Engel shot 90 at conference.
"We're not as solid depth-wise as we have been," Citrus coach Tom Darby said. "We usually have four in the 40s. This year we've only got two."
ODDS & ENDS: Lecanto is no stranger to Ocala Golf Club. The Panthers played there twice last season. If Lecanto advances, the regional is at Meadowbrook in Gainesville. That's where the Panthers played Buchholz last week.