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Hernando boys repeat in GCAC

For the girls, Citrus overtakes defending champion Lecanto towin by five strokes.

By BRANT JAMES

© St. Petersburg Times,
published September 25, 2001

SPRING HILL -- Everyone knew Hernando High's boys golf team was deep, but this was ridiculous.

The Leopards turned the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference tournament into an intrasquad scrimmage at Oak Hills on Monday, repeating as team champions with a 25-stroke margin, and posting the top four individual scores.

The girls competition was somewhat closer, but Citrus upended defending champ Lecanto, 395-402 as junior Christina Mitchell repeated as individual champion by scoring an 84 and beating Hernando sophomore Alison Frazier, 4-5, on their seconds playoff hole.

"I was apprehensive (about the playoff) because it had been so long since I came in -- a good hour," said Mitchell, who had nine pars in regulation. "Over the weekend I was thinking, "Conference is coming up and, defending champion, I knew I had to look halfway decent out there.' I haven't been shooting to my potential lately, so I said, "Well, just go out there and have fun.' "

The boys also needed two playoff holes to decide a champion, but seniors Chandler Beasley and Matt Johnson didn't play as well in the extra session as they did in tying at 74 over 18 holes. Beasley, the Leopards' No. 4 player, won his first conference title with a double-bogey.

"I always want to beat Matt," Beasley said. "But as long as we knew someone from our team was going to win it -- that's OK."

Citrus couldn't officially celebrate its girls title until after a second weather delay, when Cassie Junker finished her round with a 53 and completed the Hurricanes' score by knocking out a higher total by one of her teammates. The lowest four scores from five players count toward the final total.

Citrus was followed by Lecanto (402), Crystal River (418), Central (423), Hernando (428) and Springstead (565).

Hernando's boys needed no such drama, having all but sealed the title after nine holes, when its top four scorers made the turn in the 30s. Hernando produced the top four overall scores with Beasley and Johnson (74) and sophomores Keegan Ledford (75) and Fred Farmer, the defending champion.

Hernando's depth was displayed in the wait to anoint a champion. Ledford, playing at number one, first finished with a 75, then was pushed aside when Johnson produced four of his six birdies on his final nine for a 38-36-74. That seemed secured until Beasley shot a 35 over the last nine for a 39-35-74.

"Our team has so much depth," Ledford said. "It doesn't matter who you put in. We should still be able to do well."

Hernando was followed by Citrus (326), Crystal River (346), Central (347), Springstead (365) and Lecanto (369).

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