WINTER GARDEN — It felt good to Winter Haven senior Anthony Monteleone when he hit an approach shot close, eventually making the putt and giving the golfer momentum.
His eagle was executed was on Hole 5 of the Class 3A-Region 2 Boys Regionals at the Stoneybrook West Golf Club in Orlando on Monday and gave Monteleone his fifth eagle of the 2024 high school year. Monteleone, a district champion and The Ledger’s two-time Golfer of the Year, tied for second in regionals after shooting a 70 — his best score in regional action.
“It’s pretty crazy that it was my last regionals, but I’m excited for college golf,” said Monteleone, who is committed to Florida Southern. “Knowing that I will never play in regionals again is kind of sad just knowing it’s my last high school season.”
And in every school season there are adverse conditions that might impact one’s golf results. To Monteleone, there is no excuse when it comes to weather conditions, but it did play a factor in everybody’s play. All day, moderate winds meandered from one end of the course to the other, impacting Monteleone, who got off to a rough start.
Still, Monteleone was able to turn it around by hitting the ball under the wind.
And in the end, he was able to help his team place ninth with a team score of 313. George Jenkins finished 11th with a 327.
Other Polk County golfers placing in regionals were Winter Haven junior Tyler Loftus (26th) with a 77, George Jenkins senior Freddie Heid (29th) with a 78, George Jenkins sophomore Andrew Sagnella (37th) with a 79, Winter Haven senior Camden Blair (50th) with an 83, Winter Haven senior James Aguilar (50th) with an 83, Winter Haven senior Jes Straughn (59th) with an 84, George Jenkins sophomore Daniel Kaufmann (59th) with an 86 and George Jenkins sophomore Brayden Mitchell (70th) with a 92.
Hancock highest placer once more
In girls’ Class 3A-Region 2 action at Royal St. Cloud Golf Links on Monday, the highest placing Polk County golfer, as expected, was Kathleen senior and The Ledger’s two-time Golfer of the year, Darby Hancock, who tied for fifth after shooting a 72.
“(I) finished third a couple of times in the past at regionals but not unhappy with my score,” Hancock said. “Par is always good. I hit well enough to win, just didn’t get enough putts to fall. At the highest levels you have to make putts. I only made one birdie and that will rarely win. I’m excited to get back to state. I love the course (Mission Inn Las Colinas) and have really good memories.”
Other Polk County girls who placed in this regional tourney were Lakeland sophomore Elizabeth Hall (27th) with an 83, Lakeland junior Madison Templeton (37th) with an 88, George Jenkins freshman Katherine Novotny (56th) with a 94, Lakeland senior Nailah Butler (61st) with a 97 and Lakeland senior Nadia Butler (65th) with a 99.
In team competition, Lakeland finished 10th.
McKeel wins girls Class 2A-Region 3 Tournament — again
McKeel freshman Georgia Grace Spence tied for first place in Class 2A-Regional 3 action on Monday at The Club at Eaglebrooke thanks to a 77.
Her teammates were right behind her in the top 20: McKeel junior Caroline DeKalb was third with a 78; McKeel senior Ava Bustos was also third with a 78, McKeel senior Carly McKnight was 13th with an 85 and McKeel freshman Diya Kavalackal was 19th with a 90.
The top 20 girls helped McKeel win a third regional championship in the last five seasons, which is the time span that McKeel head golf coach Jeremy Bohnenstiehl has been at the helm.
“Georgia being co-champ with a 77 is fantastic. Ava and Caroline both shooting 79 is wonderful,” Bohnenstiehl said. “The course was in great condition, and it was also windy, so for those three to shoot those scores is phenomenal. Carly McKnight shooting an 85 is also a solid score.”
Other Polk County girls who placed in these regionals were Lake Wales senior Ally Donley (21st) with a 91, Auburndale senior Chloe Durden (32nd) with a 108, Lake Wales junior Maddie Arthur (46th) with a 123, Auburndale senior Sayler Durden (46th) with a 123, Lake Wales freshman Kylee Shick (50th) with a 125, Lake Wales senior Nidhi Masani (55th) with a 139 and Auburndale senior Kiley Houlihan (57th) with a 140.
This article will be updated.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Monteleone, Hancock, McKeel girls advance to FHSAA state golf
