Four Northside Christian golfers break 79 to lead a 144-shot rout in Class A, District 11.
By C.J. RISAK
Published October 19, 2004
CLEARWATER - Northside Christian dominated the five-team Class A, District 11 girls golf tournament, hosted by the Belleview Biltmore Golf Club, with four shooting 79 or better for a 309 total. That was 144 strokes better than runnerup Indian Rocks Christian.
"If you have four in the 70s, I think that's pretty good," Northside coach D.J. Jackson said. "This is our first district championship. We were runnersup the last two years, but we did make it to states."
The difference for the Mustangs this season is their depth.
"For the last couple of years I've had Sophie (Dembroski), Danielle (Jackson) and Morgan (Jackson)," the elder Jackson said. "I knew if we could add someone else, we'd be pretty good, and we got Dakoda (Dowd) and Whitney (Wenglasz). We have five people who could all go in the 70s on a good day."
Four was plenty for the districts. Dembroski was district medalist with 75, with teammate Danielle Jackson next best after 76. Dowd and Wenglasz tied Bradenton Academy's Christina Miller for third overall, each shooting 79. Morgan Jackson shot 87 for the Mustangs, but her score, despite being the sixth-best individually in the district, did not count toward the team total.
Indian Rocks had won the past two district titles, with Northside second. Roles were reversed this time, with the Eagles shooting 453 to finish second. Bradenton (458) edged Cardinal Mooney (459) for third and Booker was fifth (525).
For individuals not on qualifying teams, Shorecrest's Jessica Richardson led with 86.
Jackson agreed this was his best-ever Northside team, with two nine-hole wins over highly-regarded Saddleford Academy this season. "That's pretty good," he said.
The competition for Monday's eight-team regional is tough, with teams such as St. John's Newman and Naples Community competing. But the Mustangs have the depth and talent to make a run at that title, too.
