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Golf

At a glance

By IZZY GOULD
Published August 23, 2005

BISHOP McLAUGHLIN

COACH: Cliff Gill (First season)

LAST SEASON: None

KEY PLAYER: Trish Payne, Jr.

HOME COURSE: Beacon Woods Golf Course

NEED TO KNOW: Payne is Bishop McLaughlin's lone girl and will spend most of her time working with the boys team. If Payne is among Bishop McLaughlin's top six players for the boys, the school plans to let her compete.

GULF

COACH: Jerry Young (fourth season)

LAST SEASON: None

KEY PLAYER: Bailey Logan, Fr.

HOME COURSE: Fox Hollow Golf Club

NEED TO KNOW: Gulf's dominant run in the late 1990s ended when Mitchell opened in 2000. Young said the entire girls team helped build the foundation for the Mustangs golf dynasty. Meanwhile, Gulf has been without a team the past two seasons. Young spent that time assisting the boys team. A public address announcement attracted five girls to this year's team. Young said it's still too early to know how competitive Gulf can be this season.

HUDSON

COACH: Richard Stokes (First season)

LAST SEASON: 0-3. Forced to forfeit a handful of matches with limited participants.

KEY RETURNEE: Nicole Abatemarco, Jr.

HOME COURSE: Timber Oaks Golf Course

NEED TO KNOW: Stokes hopes to improve on last season's progress by teaching the game. A win would be significant after a string of seasons with no victories. Stokes believes teaching will lead to wins in the long run. Abatemarco was the strongest Cobra last season and will play the No.1 position. Hudson should also improve with the help of Timber Oaks course director Suzanne Pace, who volunteered to assist Stokes.

LAND O'LAKES

COACH: Mary Jane Reeves (third season)

LAST SEASON: Not available

KEY RETURNEES: Jordan Rolan, Jr.; Rebecca Gonzalez, Sr.

HOME COURSE: The Groves Golf and Country Club

NEED TO KNOW: Reeves believes Land O'Lakes is a lot stronger than last season. With 11 members, including eight seniors, Reeves sees maturity and focus that she believes can help the Gators make a run at a conference title. Reeves has seens improvement since the end of last season. Land O'Lakes opens with Zephyrhills on Sept.1. "I think they are ready for this season more than ever before," Reeves said.

MITCHELL

COACH: Joe Castellano (first season)

LAST SEASON: 10-0. Class 2A state tournament tied for 10th; Region 4 runnerup; District 8 champs; Sunshine Athletic Conference champs.

KEY RETURNEES: Ashley Aguilera, Sr.; Stephanie Pitts, Jr.

HOME COURSE: Heritage Springs Country Club

NEED TO KNOW: Castellano begins his first season at the helm after a year as a Mustangs' assistant. Mitchell lost its core of seniors after an impressive run to state. Castellano realizes there is pressure to continue Mitchell's string of three undefeated regular seasons, which includes 51 consecutive victories. In addition to Aguilera and Pitts, Castellano hopes freshman transfer Emily VanEtten can help the Mustangs maintain their dominance. VanEtten, a junior, is expected to compete for a spot. "I see a lot of potential this year for a lot of success for a high level," Castellano said. "We have high expectations and look to compete hard for entire season."

PASCO

COACH: Abigail Kennedy (second season)

LAST SEASON: 3-4

KEY RETURNEES: Amy Smith, Sr.; Kimberly Turner, Yr.

HOME COURSE: Tampa Bay Golf and Country Club

NEED TO KNOW: Kennedy begins her second season with three seniors and the chore of combing the halls for more participants. Smith earned second team all-conference honors; Turner was named third-team all-conference. "My seniors are excited for their last year and are determined to make this season their best," Kennedy said.

RIDGEWOOD

COACH: Harry Mortner (First season)

LAST SEASON: Won one match.

KEY RETURNEES: Stephanie Nunn, Jr., Gilia Frey, Jr., Justina Brosnan, Sr.

HOME COURSE: The Links Golf Club

NEED TO KNOW: Mortner hopes the Rams can win one more match than last season. Ridgewood is still building with a core of ninth graders hungry to prove their worth. Ridgewood has the daunting task of opening Sept.1 against Wesley Chapel.

RIVER RIDGE

COACH: Ernie Beck (fourth season)

LAST SEASON: Fourth in conference.

KEY RETURNEES: Shannon Howe, Sr.

HOME COURSE: River Ridge Country Club

NEED TO KNOW: River Ridge is among the majority of teams in the SAC with youth and inexperience. Uniquely, Beck has 11 girls on the team, including four who have never played golf. Beck usually invites seven or eight onto the team, but opted to keep everyone this season in hopes of encouraging them to stick with the sport. River Ridge opens with Pasco on Sept.1. "I don't expect a lot from us this year," Beck said. "I just hope the girls build on what they learn for the future."

SADDLEBROOK PREP

COACH: Neil Postlethwait (five seasons)

LAST SEASON: Class A state runnerup; Region 3 champions; District 6 champions.

HOME COURSE: Saddlebrook Golf and Tennis Resort

KEY RETURNEES: Brianna Seo (formely Yun Seo), Jr.; Meghna Bal, Sr.; Macarena Vergara, Jr.

NEED TO KNOW: Saddlebrook is coming off one of its best seasons since winning the Class A title in 1999. Postlethwait anticipates a season equally as good, if not better with three of his top players back. Saddlebrook also welcomes two transfers from Spain, which Postlethwait hopes will add depth and create some in-house competition. He expects to have at least six players, maybe eight. "It looks like we're going to be pretty good," Postlethwait said.

WESLEY CHAPEL

COACH: Steve Mumaw (first season)

LAST SEASON: 7-3. Fourth place in Class 2A, District 7 tournament; tied for second place at SAC.

KEY RETURNEES: T.J. Adipietro, So.; Samantha Friese, So.

HOME COURSE: Lexington Oaks Golf Club

NEED TO KNOW: Goodbye Hana Young. Wesley Chapel's top player is gone. Young was one of the area's top golfers the past four seasons. Mumaw knew Young and said, "There's no way to replace someone like that." But Adipietro can make teammates feel at ease without Young. Adipietro burst onto the local high school scene with an impressive freshman campaign, including second-place finishes at the Class 2A, District 7 meet and SAC tournament. Mumaw expects at least five players to compete for the Wildcats, and is encouraged more will join the team in the coming days.

ZEPHYRHILLS

COACH: Rich Green (second season)

LAST SEASON: 7-3. Tied for second at conference.

KEY RETURNEES: Justina Merizalde, Jr.; Danielle Black, Sr.; Teresa Doolittle, Sr.

HOME COURSE: Hidden Creek Golf Club

NEED TO KNOW: Zephyrhills lost its top golfer Sarah Johnson to graduation. The first-team all-conference selection was a huge loss. Green expects Merizalde to make up for the loss and step into the No.1 role. Green is also excited about freshman Emily Brown, who has an aunt that is a golf pro. Brown has had plenty of lessons. "It's going to be really hard to replace Sarah," Green said. "The girls are enthusiastic. It's going to be tough to repeat a second-place finish. If some of our younger girls can step up we might have a chance."

DISTRICTS

CLASS 2A, DISTRICT 6: Bellview, Central, Ocala Forest, Lake Weir, Land O'Lakes , Lecanto, Leesburg, Springstead, Vanguard, Wesley Chapel .

CLASS 2A, DISTRICT 12: Clearwater, East Lake, Gulf, Hudson , Mitchell, Palm Harbor University, Ridgewood, River Ridge .

CLASS A, DISTRICT 9: Bishop McLaughlin, Citrus, Crystal River, Hernando, Hernando Christian, Nature Coast, Pasco, Saddlebrook Prep , Seven Rives Christian, South Sumter, Zephyrhills.

[Last modified August 23, 2005, 02:45:30]