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Players face tests on, off the greens

By BRIAN SUMERS
Published October 11, 2006

INVERNESS - With Citrus high schools taking exams this week, several golfers were forced to choose between playing 18 holes or sitting for tests.

For most, the decision was easy - play golf. But two Crystal River golfers did not play in the Class A, District 9 tournament at Inverness Golf Club, attending school instead. (See results in main sports section.)

The Pirates finished fifth, missing the final region spot by 30 strokes. Chelsea Bennett and Madhuri Shukla did not play.

Still, most other Citrus County players decided they could juggle work and school.

"Teachers will work with you," Crystal River coach Jere DeFoor said. "All these girls get good grades."

Citrus, which finished second, had the same problem, but all of its golfers played. Hurricanes coach Michelle Connor said principal Leigh Ann Bradshaw was supportive of her players.

Though the golfers who played got a one-day reprieve from exams and school, academics still loomed.

Crystal River's Caitlin Camp said she has a 115-question health science exam today.

"Now I have to go home and study," she said.

Teams in Hernando County do not have exams this week, so they could enjoy the day off from school with few consequences.

"They love it," Hernando coach Kevin Bittinger said. "Who wouldn't? You get out of school and play golf - that's the closest they'll get to being a pro."

PLAYING FOR FUN: All Bittinger wanted was for the Leopards to play relaxed.

With the pressure off, the Leopards nearly managed a surprise berth in the next round. They finished fourth, 15 strokes behind Zephyrhills, the final qualifier for region play.

"You let them realize it's just a game," Bittinger said.

But not everything started well for Hernando.

They were scheduled to leave at 6:45 a.m., though most players didn't arrive until after 7. And it took them most of the van ride to wake up.

"They're not morning kids," Bittinger said. "It was a very quiet ride."

TROPHY TIME: Though neither Nature Coast nor Hernando qualified for regionals, the coaches of both teams shared a lighthearted moment after the match

Using his digital camera, Nature Coast coach Greg Champagne showed Bittinger photographs of the trophy the Leopards will receive for winning last week's conference championship.

Nature Coast won it last year, but the Leopards get it now.

Bittinger said he was impressed with the hardware.

"I'm going to put that bad boy up on my desk," he said.

OUCH: DeFoor coached his first match since falling off a horse more than a week ago.

Though he sustained painful bruises on his back when a horse bucked, DeFoor said he did not believe the incident was a big deal. He still was walking gingerly Tuesday.

"It was just an accident that happened," he said.

Camp said the Pirates missed DeFoor because they could no longer play loud music and yell in the team van.

"Our car rides weren't the same without Coach," she said.

[Last modified October 11, 2006, 06:24:31]