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Hurricanes turn in their best performance of season

By RICHARD BURTON
Published September 30, 2005

Citrus coach Michelle Connor saw her team play its best in its biggest match to date. Competing in a driving rainstorm, the Hurricanes produced a 16-stroke win over Lecanto.

"I am so proud of how my girls hunkered down and clawed it out in spite of the weather," Connor said. "They were real troopers."

Briana Carlson captured medalist honors with 42, her second in two matches this season against the Panthers (4-3), who also lost to Vanguard last week.

"We didn't shoot near our averages," Lecanto coach Doug Warren said.

The Hurricanes (15-0) received solid efforts from Christine Bang (47), Ashton Connor (48) and Lauren Bomke (48) against the Panthers.

BATTLING THROUGH: Things aren't always going to be easy, and the good teams are the ones able to adapt to them.

Citrus did so in a recent quad match at Seven Rivers Country Club against Crystal River, South Sumter and Hernando.

"The scores didn't reflect how well they played because of the layout of the course," Connor said. "The course has a lot of hidden water right in front of the greens.

"My girls thought they had hit a perfect shot and would find their ball in the water," the coach said. "If any of them had played the course before, I think they would have shaved several more strokes off our team score. That is what the season is all about. Live and learn."

LECANTO: Kari Amundson has been among the area's top players but finished with a round of 50 against Citrus.

Still, the Panther impressed Connor by the way Amundson battled through the tough conditions at Inverness County Club.

"I was so impressed with her attitude the entire round," Connor said. "She kept her head held high and conducted herself like a champion the entire day. It was a pleasure to host such a classy group of girls."

Carly Lewis led Lecanto with 48.

CRYSTAL RIVER: Andrea Adams has earned medalist honors in each match she has played this season. The Pirates (5-4) beat Nature Coast Tech for the second time this year last week.

"She's playing at a consistent level," Crystal River coach Jere DeFoor said.

Adams had low rounds of 39 in matches against Lecanto and Ocala Trinity Catholic.

With five freshman among its top seven players, Crystal River is looking toward the future. But along the way, DeFoor is enjoying this season. "It's kind of fun having a bunch of young ones that want to play," he said.

[Last modified September 30, 2005, 01:35:17]