The regular season for boys and girls golf in the Florida High School Athletic Association is slowly wrapping up.
Just a few weeks remain until area golfers will start competing in the postseason, with district tournaments slated for Oct. 28-30 around the state. For Class 3A, the boys district tourney will be local at Stonebrook Golf Club on Oct. 28, starting at 9 a.m. For the girls, the 3A district tournament location hasn’t been posted yet, and 2A and 1A will be on the road.
Regional tournaments kick off on Nov. 4-6, and then the state tournament is scheduled for Nov. 12-20 (depending on the classification) at Mission Resort and Club in Howey-in-the-Hills.
That means it’s an appropriate time to highlight some of the area’s top golfers. A handful of players have shot low all season long, and have become early frontrunners for the 2024 PNJ Golfer of the Year award, for both the boys and girls. These players have been selected by the PNJ Sports Staff, and there is no guarantee of earning the award at the end of the season.
This is where golf fans come in: who’s the leading MVP candidate for golf from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties? Be sure to vote below. The poll will be open until Thursday (Oct. 10) at 12 p.m.
Note: Is your team or stats missing? Be sure to file statistics with the PNJ sports staff. All stats and scores below are from iWanamaker.
Boys golf
Hudson Mitchell, Pensacola Catholic: Hudson Mitchell’s been able to stand out on a veteran-heavy team, with a lot of players returning from last season. Through seven nine-hole matches, Mitchell has recorded an average score of 36.3. In two 18-hole matches, outside of winning both of them, he’s gone under par twice with a 69 and a 67 – the latter was five-under and set a new record at the FCA boys golf tournament at AC Read on NAS Pensacola’s base.
Baylor Touchstone, Tate: On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Aggies are a little younger, yet with plenty of talent. Baylor Touchstone, a sophomore, has been among the lowest scores in every match he’s played this season. Through five matches against local teams, Touchstone’s averaged a score of 36.8, including a 37 at the Escambia County Championship, which he won based on a playoff. In two 18-hole tournaments, Touchstone shot a 74 twice to be within the top-five finishers.
Judah Talley, Pace: The Patriots are always a strong contender in Class 3A, and have a history of making it to the state tournament as a team. Leading the charge this year for Pace has been senior Judah Talley. His lowest nine-hole score on the season has been a 35, averaging a 36 through six matches. In two 18-hole tournaments, Talley carded a 70 and a 74, the first good enough for second at the Byron Nathan Tournament in Pace.
Clark Norris, Gulf Breeze: Playing on a senior-heavy team, Clark Norris has been consistent for the Dolphins during the 2024 campaign. He’s averaged a nine-hole score of 38.5 in four matches. That’s on top of three 18-hole tournaments, where he placed second at both The Spud in Mississippi with a 71 and the FCA tournament at AC Read. His other 18-hole score was a 78 at the Byron Nathan.
Girls golf
Abby Vernier, West Florida: Abby Vernier has played in a handful of matches for West Florida this season, with a few other non-FHSAA rounds played this season. As far as her high school notables, Vernier hasn’t lost a match yet. In four competitions, she was the medalist in all of them, including a low of 34, twice, at both Marcus Pointe Golf Club in early September and Perdido Bay Golf Club on Tuesday. She’s averaged a score of 35.5.
Riley Bounds, Gulf Breeze: In just a trio of matches reported, Riley Bounds has been part of a solid one-two punch for the Dolphins. Bounds, a junior, in two nine-hole matches, has recorded a 41 and a 42, the first of which was tied for first with teammate Michelle Burt. At the FCA girls tournament, Bounds carded an 84, which was good enough for ninth.
Elizabeth Palmer, Pensacola Catholic: A standout sophomore for the Crusaders, Elizabeth Palmer has been on a tear this year as well. Through four nine-hole matches reported (where the Crusaders played against another opponent), Palmer has averaged a score of 40, while also carding a 71 at the FCA girls tournament, winning at AC Read with a score one-under par.
Anna Kunkel, Northview: Anna Kunkel’s been able to hit the ball a country mile since the summer after winning the A. Downing Gray Cup. Now, she’s leading Northview with an average score of 38.5 in six nine-hole matches. Kunkel also carded a 73 for the Chiefs at the FCA tournament at AC Read, where she placed fourth overall.
Jaya McDonald, Navarre: A young gun for the Raiders, Jaya McDonald has impressed in her freshman year at Navarre. Through seven matches, McDonald has led the Raiders with an average nine-hole score of 41.6. Her lowest round of the year came on Tuesday with a 38 at Tanglewood. She also was the lowest Navarre score at the FCA girls tournament with an 87, good enough for 10th.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: High School Golf: Vote for the area’s frontrunner for PNJ boys, girls MVP
