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Panthers returning to state

 
Published Nov. 4, 2003|Updated Sept. 2, 2005

Even wind and rain in the early part of the day didn't slow defending state champion Brittany Lincicome from capturing medalist honors in Monday's Class 2A, Region 4 tournament on the Silver Dollar Golf Course.

The Seminole senior shot 70 and helped Seminole capture the team title with a score of 319.

Plant earned its third consecutive trip to state with a second-place finish at 339. Cynthia Lacrosse and Kelly Betts led the Panthers with matching 79s.

Mallory Parsons (87) and Kimberly Andreu (94) were the other scorers for the Panthers.

"We are playing just where I though we would be playing for this time of the year," Plant coach Art Psillis said. "Seminole is just an incredible team and Lincicome is one of the top 10 players in the country. We were 14th in the state last year and 13th the year before. I just want to see the girls improve this year at the state meet. They played great today."

Gaither senior Ashley Kemp shot the lowest score among Hillsborough County players. She was fourth overall, tying Seminole's Rachel Edwards at 79.

She played while sick and left the course immediately after finishing her round.

"Ashley was the lowest county player in the district last week also," Gaither coach Will Brimm said. "I'm sure she would have done better if she had felt better, but only the two top individuals earned a trip to state and both Brittany (Lincicome) and Hana (Young, of Wesley Chapel shot 72) are great players and played well today."

Wharton freshman Christina Grey played one of the most determined rounds of the tournament. On the first hole, her ball landed in the rough and she required 10 shots on the hole. But instead of folding she came back to shoot 84, finishing in the top 12.

The top two teams and top two individuals advanced to next week's state tournament.

_ TERRY JONES

2A-3: Jenkins a winner

WINTER HAVEN _ Lakeland George Jenkins didn't take any chances that the 342 it shot last week to win the district title would be good enough to win Monday at the region tournament.

The Eagles improved by 10 strokes to win by 11 at Willowbrook Golf Course. They were led by individual champion Dolores White, who shot 73. Jenkins shot 332; Olympia shot 343 for second.

Durant was the top Hillsborough County team, finishing sixth at 392. Armwood shot 408 to finish seventh, followed by Riverview (415) in eighth.

The top county individual was Durant's Jenna Taylor, who shot 86. The top two teams and top two individuals advanced to next week's state tournament.

_ THE LAKELAND LEDGER

A-5: Berkeley Prep going to state

SEBRING _ Gusty winds sent scores soaring at Sebring Municipal Golf Course in the girls' Class A, Region 5 tournament on Monday.

Despite shooting seven higher than they did in district last week, the Sebring Blue Streaks managed to win their second straight regional title and earn a fifth-straight trip to state, shooting a team total 369 for a 20-stroke win over second-place Berkley Prep.

Sebring and Berkley Prep will compete in the state tournament at the PGA Dye Course in Port St. Lucie Nov. 11-12, as will individual qualifiers Laura Smilnak of Clearwater Central Catholic and Oldsmar Christian's Whitney Wenglasz.

Smilnak won medalist honors with 10-over 82, shooting nines of 43-39 to finish three strokes better than Wenglasz. Smilnak said the winds, which blew all day from 10-30 mph, made scoring tough.

"You had to think a lot more," she said. "You had to think about the clubs because there was a lot of wind out there to make a difference. I didn't make a lot of up-and-downs that I probably should have."

Dana Turker shot 86 for third to lead Berkley Prep. Holly Campbell shot 92, Sydney Ridley 95, Merrin Jenkins 116 and Lauren Turker 120.

"I felt like we'd have a good chance if we played our best and we played pretty well," said Berkley Prep coach Clay Thomas after his team clinched its second trip to state. "It was very windy. I was expecting the scores to be even higher for our team, so I was very pleased that we came in with a score just one shot higher than (at regionals) last year."

Sebring was led by Jocelyn Dunn (87), good for fourth place, and Jenna Freeland (91). Jessica Williams shot 92, Courtney Gose 99 and Amanda Myers 100 for the Blue Streaks.

Hardee finished third in the team standings with 436, followed by CCC at 441, Tampa Prep at 450, Lake Wales at 459, Academy of Holy Names in seventh at 479 and Mulberry at 503. Mulberry's Rachel Butler placed fifth with 90 and Hardee's Kendall Coker sixth with 91.

_ SCOTT DRESSEL