Wesley Chapel has just enough depth, and the best individual golfer, to edge Mitchell for the conference crown.
By STEVE WATERS
Published October 13, 2004
LAND O'LAKES - From the very first shot, Cameron Knight had the tournament in the palm of his hand. He knew it, too.
He seems to be pretty confident in his skills. He remained cool and collected, though he was part of the first group back to the clubhouse Tuesday.
"I've done it before," he said. "I've won a lot, won the conference last year."
The Wesley Chapel junior shot 2-under par 70, leading his team to victory at the Sunshine Athletic Conference tournament at Plantation Palms Golf Club.
"I was playing pretty good. I just wasn't making any putts," Knight said. "I had one bad shot on (No.) 16, but other than that, I played great."
Wesley Chapel had two players in the top five as Logan Horn tied for third at 3-over.
Junior Cole Cisbani of Mitchell placed a close second, shooting par 72.
Cisbani struggled in the front nine, scoring 3-over. He finished strong though, shooting a tournament-best 3-under on the back nine.
Rounding out the top five were Erick Dokendorf of Zephyrhills and Horn, and Spencer McIntosh of Land O'Lakes at 77.
The top five team scores were Wesley Chapel at 20-over par 308, followed by Mitchell (311), Land O'Lakes (332), Zephyrhills (335) and River Ridge (345).
One of the most difficult courses in the Tampa Bay area, with steep slopes and hazards galore, the 6,200-yard layout was tough on many players. Many scores were in the 90s, and triple digits weren't that uncommon.
But despite the struggle, Wesley Chapel coach Alan Black was in high spirits over his team's victory.
"I'm very proud of these kids," he said. "Cameron Knight? What can you say? He's been Mr. Consistent. He plays well every time he goes out there."
"The other kids I'm proud of, because it's never the same ones who come through."
Black said because the team does not depend on two or three players in every tournament, they pick each other up and keep the scores down.
But being out on the course, wondering how others are doing, can make things pretty tense.
"I knew that Mitchell was playing well," he said. "And it's not like you have a leaderboard out there to see, so you're on edge until the scores are totaled up."
