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One stroke makes all the difference for Bulldogs

Zephyrhills' top four shoot 39 or lower to edge conference rival Mitchell by one stroke. Hernando finishes third.

By WAYNE GRUMET

© St. Petersburg Times,
published October 5, 2001

DADE CITY -- Tuesday's tri-match at Scotland Yards had the electricity and intensity of a postseason contest with Hernando, Zephyrhills and Mitchell boasting a combined record of 37-4.

The level of play didn't disappoint as nine of the 18 competitors shot under 40.

In the end, Zephyrhills managed to escape with a one-stroke victory against previously undefeated Mitchell. The Bulldogs avenged an earlier nonconference loss to the Mustangs with a 152-153 win.

Hernando finished strong with 161 despite missing two golfers.

"We got an extremely slow start (to the season). We were not ready to play," Zephyrhills coach Robert Hatfield said.

"It helped my team get serious early in the season and it worked like a devil."

Mitchell sophomore Mark McGrane was the medalist with 36.

His teammate, Tyler Clippard, joined Zephyrhills' Kyle Pierson and Hernando's James Meier with rounds of 37.

Zephyrhills (13-2, 8-0 in the Sunshine Athletic Conference) edged Mitchell after its top four golfers each shot better than 39. Mark Dunn and A.J. Blackstone each shot 38 for the Bulldogs and Aaron Young tallied 39.

Mitchell (12-1, 7-1 in the SAC) got a strong outing from Kyle Laux, who shot 38. Jason Hauser was next with 42.

Fred Farmer led Hernando (13-3) with 38.

Leopards coach Pete Lahey allowed his second- and fourth-seeded golfers to stay home, since this wasn't a conference meet for his team.

Keegan Ledford and Chandler Beasley were involved in Tuesday night's homecoming events, Lahey said.

Mitchell hosts the conference tournament and Mustangs coach Thomas Jessee is counting on a home-course advantage.

"We hope our home course is worth two strokes," Jessee said. "I think we beat them by six or seven over at our place earlier in the year.

"Great atmosphere for our kids to get ready for the conference tournament."

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