Bolles senior Luke Balaskiewicz birdied two of his last three holes and finished with a 69 on Wednesday at the Mission Inn Resort El Campeon Course in Howey-in-the-Hills to tie for second in the FHSAA Class 1A state golf tournament.
Balaskiewicz, who will attend the University of North Florida next year, began the day in a tie for 20th after a first-round 72. He finished at 3-under 141 to tie Joey Iaciofano of Oxbridge Academy, two shots behind winner Luke Gossett of Orlando Circle Christian.
Oxbridge won the team title at 11-over 587, nine shots clear of Palm Beach Benjamin. Bolles finished 10th as a team at 38-over.
Balaskiewicz birdied his first hole, then made three bogeys in a five-hole span to stand on the ninth tee 2-over for the tournament. He birdied that hole, made the turn and birdied No. 10, then eagled No. 14 and birdies Nos. 16 and 17.
He closed with a bogey at No. 18 but still finished with his fourth consecutive post-season round of par or better. Balaskiewicz won the District 4-1A and the Region 1-1A titles and averaged 69.7.
Oxbridge held off a strong charge by Benjamin for the state title. Benjamin entered the week as the No. 1 team in the state according to the iWanamaker rankings.
How did Charlie Woods fare?
Sophomore Charlie Woods, the son of 15-time major champion Tiger Woods, tied for 29th at 7-over 151.
Montverde Academy won the girls 1A tournament at the Las Colinas Course at 1-under 567, beating Circle Christian by 10 shots. Grace Xu won the individual title at 11-under 131, topping Remi Bacardi of Palmer Trinity by four shots.
Bolles (633) finished 13th. Episcopal sophomore Sahana Chokshi (69) tied for sixth at 3-under. She played her first 12 holes at 3-under with no bogeys.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Luke Balaskiewicz of Bolles, Sahana Chokshi of Episcopal rally in 1A golf
