Preps

Roster depth helps Jesuit claim district

The Tigers edge Berkeley Prep, which had individual winner Blake Morris, by four strokes.

By Joe Smith
Published October 16, 2007

TAMPA - Jesuit junior Jack Twomey has said if you can't hit the fairways at the Eagles, "You'll be scrambling."

Twomey, one of the county's top golfers, found out the hard way Monday at the Class A, District 14 tournament.

Twomey scattered several shots in carding his fourth over-par round of the season (81), but his teammates had his back as the Tigers (314) showcased their depth for their second straight district title, beating Berkeley Prep (319) and Tampa Catholic (346).

With the Buccaneers owning the match medalist, freshman Blake Morris (72), the title remained in doubt until the Tigers' fifth man, Jordan Hiller (80), finished his round.

"When I turned in my scorecard, (coach) John Crumbley grinned and gave me a high five," Hiller said. "I knew something was up."

As Morris said, "Birdies were hard to come by."

That is, unless you nail a 50-foot putt (on No.16) like Jesuit senior Dylan Malafronte did - or perhaps if your name is Jimmy Stanger.

Stanger, a seventh-grader from Berean Academy, birdied three of his first five holes and shot 81 to qualify for the region tournament; Spoto's Matt Yaquinto (81) and Charlie Bauman (83) also advanced.

But few had Stanger's back story. The 12-year-old dedicated his round to his sick friend - and Berean's No.2 golfer - Harris Armstong, who was diagnosed last week with astrocytoma (tumor on his spine). Armstrong, 11, had surgery last week and is scheduled for chemotherapy; the team honored Armstrong by writing his initials on their golf balls.

"He's been my best friend my whole life," Stanger said.

"And he would have been our best golfer out here - if he could play."

[Last modified October 15, 2007, 22:40:28]