Sharks shocked: Ponte Vedra boys golf ties for third in district, will advance at large

It was shock time at the Slammer and Squire on Tuesday.

The Ponte Vedra boys golf team, on a seven-year streak of winning state championships in two classes, didn’t win a district tournament for the first time in nine years under coach Mickey Leapley.

The Sharks didn’t even finish second. They tied for third with Nease at 12-over 300.

But Ponte Vedra will still move on to the Region 1-3A tournament on Nov. 4 at the Golf Club at Cypress Head in Port Orange, based on their overall ranking on the FHSAA’s iWanamaker index.

Ponte Vedra is the top-ranked team in Region 1-3A. Creekside, which finished sixth in the district behind Fletcher but is third in the region behind Beachside, also will likely advance to the regional.

In the meantime, there’s a new sheriff in St. Johns County and that’s the Beachside Barracudas, who followed up their county tournament victory over the Sharks to win the District 2-3A tournament in a tie-breaker with Tocoi Creek.

Both teams finished at 1-over 289 and Beachside won the team title on a tiebreaker based on players’ scores on the highest handicap holes.

The teams remained tied after counting the scores on the par-4 fifth hole. The Barracudas then nipped the Toros by one shot at the par-4 12^th.

Ambrose Kinnare of Tocoi Creek won the individual district title with a 4-under 68, topping Beachside’s Jaspreet Kondal (70). Jonah Nacional of Beachside and D.J. Walker of Tocoi Creek tied for third at 71.

Easton Oliva and Cameron Reed both shot 73 to lead Ponte Vedra.

“Our guys are very proud of how they’ve played,” said Beachside coach Chris Haffley. “Ponte Vedra didn’t play their best but we were solid throughout the lineup. Tocoi Creek also really played well. It should be a great tournament at the region.”

Leapley said it was time for his players to put aside the sting of tying for third in the district and direct their energies at the regional tournament, where they need to finish among the top two to assure a spot in the Class 3A state tournament.

“Now they’ve got to go out and grind,” Leapley said. “It’s another opportunity for them so let’s see if they can take advantage.”

Kuhlenkamp leads Fleming Island boys

Emmett Kuhlenkamp overcame a double-bogey on the first hole at Eagle Harbor and shot 68 to win the individual title in District 4-2A, edging teammate and 3A individual champion Tyler Mawhinney by two shots. The Golden Eagles won the team title at 6-under 282, 31 shots over runner-up St. Augustine. … Luke Balaskiewicz shot 70 at Hidden Hills to lead Bolles to a close victory over Providence in District 4-1A. The Bulldogs topped the Stallions by four shots. Ethan Grossman led Providence with a 72. … Colson Hale shot 70 at to lead Fernandina Beach to a three-shot victory over Bishop Kenny in District 3-2A at the Fernandina Beach Golf Club. Evan Raynor of the Crusaders won the individual title with a 68.

Beachside girls use balance to beat Ponte Vedra

Beachside got its quest for a second state title in a row off to a good start. Four Barracudas posted scores of 76 or lower, led by Alexa Iordanov and Fiona Clancy with 73s, to beat Ponte Vedra by 22 shots at Eagle Landing in District 3-2A. Stella Moritz of the Sharks was the medalist with a 72. … Bolles won District 4-1A at Hidden Hills by 22 shots over Providence behind Grace Brefitt (78). Sahana Chokshi of Episcopal was the medalist with a 74. … Lili Chiang shot 75 to lead Stanton to the team title in District 3-2A at the Fernandina Beach Golf Club, by 29 shots over the host Pirates. Sadaly Campbell of Fernandina was the medalist with a 72. … Fleming Island overpowered the field in District 4-2A at the Palatka Golf Club, beating Middleburg by 43 shots. … Lake City Columbia also routed the competition in District 2-2A at Quail Heights, beating second-place Crawfordville Wakulla by 74 shots. Alison O’Brien was the medalist with a 74.

FHSAA district golf tournaments

BOYS

Oct. 28

2A-District 3, Fernandina Beach Golf Club 

1. Fernandina Beach 305: Colson Hale 70, Brady Steffen 75, Griffin Banks 80, Hudson Dye 80, Jake Chenoweth 84. 2. Bishop Kenny 308: Evan Raynor 68, Antony Candelora 78, Cade Tucker 81, Adam Enoch 81, Brandon Salomone 85. Individual qualifiers: Benjamin Reed (Paxon) 79, Josef Reed (Paxon 80).

District 4-1A, Hidden Hills Golf Club, Jacksonville

1. Bolles 299: Luke Balaskiewicz 70, Nico Vasto 75, Enzo Martine 77, Kelly Day 77, Neal Kuthalia 79. 2. Providence 303: Ethan Grossman 72, Jack Cole 76, Connor Tran 77, Alexander Stewart 78, Keelan Jackson 81. Individual qualifiers: Braden Trans (Episcopal) 75, Dylan Tran (Episcopal) 79.

Oct. 29

District 5-1A, Mark Bostick Golf Course, Gainesville

1. Gainesville Oak Hall 339: Jackson Fetrow 74, Will Stowe 75, Tanmay Chandra 77, Mike Sims 113, Will Klein 114. 2. Keystone Heights: Ty Mitzel 83, Jacob Beach 88, Hunter Sheppard 90, Will Begue 96, Nathaniel Bardier 105. Individual qualifiers: Turner Hersey (Palatka Peniel Baptist) 80.

District 4-2A, Eagle Harbor Golf Club, Orange Park

1. Fleming Island 282: Emmet Kuhlenkamp 68, Tyler Mawhinney 70, Ryan Houck 72, Dylan Frein 72, Carson Moore 78. 2. St. Augustine 313: Hudson Silbert 72, Luke Splane 76, Ryder Averdick 82, Cash Winch 83, Bode Averdick 86. Individual qualifiers: Michael Rattigan (Wolfson) 74; Jack Newell (Clay) 74.

District 2-3A, Slammer & Squire, St. Augustine

1. Beachside 289: Jaspreet Kondal 70, Jonah Nacional 71, Jack Randolph 73, Samuel Ha 75, Barton Abstein 79. 2. Tocoi Creek 289: Ambrose Kinnare 68, D.J. Walker 71, Jonathan Hoag 74, Hunter Burke 76, Gavin Daina 77. At-large: Ponte Vedra 300: Easton Oliva 73, Cameron Reed 73, Jake Mason 76, Cooper Franklin 78, James Nagle 79. Creekside: Bryson Hughes 74, Charlie Hipp 74, Brady Dougan 79, Ty Martin 85, Gavin Hardee 86. Individual qualifiers: Jackson Sullivan (Sandalwood) 72; Mason Seaton (Fletcher) 73.

Regional tournaments

Nov. 4

Region 1-1A, Jacksonville Beach Golf Club, 7:50 a.m.

Teams: Bolles, Providence.

Individuals: Braden Trans, Dylan Tran, Episcopal.

Region 1-3A, Golf Club at Cypress Head, Port Orange, 8 a.m.

Teams: Beachside, Tocoi Creek, Ponte Vedra, Creekside.

Individuals: Jackson Sullivan, Sandalwood; Mason Seaton, Fletcher (If Ponte Vedra and Nease qualify at large).

Region 1-2A, Country Club of Lake City, 8:30 a.m.

Teams: Fleming Island, St. Augustine, Fernandina Beach, Bishop Kenny.

Individuals: Michael Rattigan, Wolfson; Jack Newell, Clay.

Region 2-1A, Seven Springs Golf and Country Club, Spring Hill, 11 a.m.

Team: Keystone Heights.

Individual: Turner Hersey, Palatka Peniel Baptist.

*-Additional at-large teams and individuals may be added.

GIRLS

Oct. 28

District 4-1A, Hidden Hills Golf Club

1. Bolles 323: Grace Brefitt 78, Chloe McGrath 80, Anaiya Nahar 81, Riley Powell 84, Taylor Olsen 96. 2. Providence 345: Emily Burford 81, Brooke Thomas 84, Jessee Thompson 89, Honor Donaldson 89, Katelyn Potts 114. Individual qualifiers: Sahana Chokshi (Episcopal) 74, Addy Vogt (St. Johns Country Day) 75.

District 2-3A, Eagle Landing, Jacksonville

1. Beachside 297: Alexa Iordanov 73, Fiona Clancy 73, Sophia Rivera 75, Kitana Naidu 76, Mila Hubert 81. 2. Ponte Vedra 319: Stella Moritz 72, Nina Santiago 81, Lauren Barned 81, Kennedy Hronek 85, Shradda Nambiar 100. Individual qualifiers: Aspen Bikowski (Bartram Trail) 74, Ashley Mikesell (Bartram Trail) 78.

Oct. 29

District 3-2A, Fernandina Beach Golf Club

1. Stanton 322: Lily Chiang 75, Ninarika Naravarjala 78, Alyssa Hardy 79, Moli Rodke 90, Olivia Woods 112. 2. Fernandina Beach 351: Sadaly Campbell 72, Ellie Reisner 76, Zoey Gamba 102, Emma Genovese 103, Raleigh Simmons 123. Individual qualifiers: Kathleen Crawley (Bishop Kenny) 86, Candace Aldridge (Bishop Kenny) 88.

District 4-2A, Palatka Golf Club

1. Fleming Island 376: Chloe Blanc 79, Shayla Abbas 80, Kathryn McNeill 88, Shaina Spencer 129, Lynn Norton 138. 2. Middleburg 419: Jordan Bork 96, Emily Martin 99, Chloe Toney 106, Reagan Stininger 109, Sophia Gaeta 118. Individual qualifiers: Jayne Cannaliato (Menendez) 107, Elena Manaute (Menendez) 110.

District 3-1A, Capital City Country Club, Tallahasee

1. Tallahassee Maclay 329, 2. Tallahassee Florida High 370. Individual qualifier: Zoe Elixon (Union County) 105.

District 2-2A, Quail Heights Country Club, Lake City

1. Lake City Columbia 342: Alison O’Brien 74, Megan Ruwe 79, Rayna Hardin 83, Adeline Mock 106. 2. Crawfordville Wakulla 416: McKenzie Anderson 93, Hadley Brown 103, Abbigail Lawhon 108, Jesselee Core 112, Peyton Jones 128. Individual qualifiers: Ryan Donalson (Suwannee) 72, Kate Kirby (Suwannee) 93.

District 5-1A, Mark Bostick Golf Course, Gainesville

1. Gainesville Oak Hall 485, 2. Chiefland 510. Individual qualifier: Danielle Dailey (St. Joseph) 74.

Regional tournaments

Nov. 5

Region 1-2A, Quail Heights Country Club, Lake City, 9 a.m.

Teams: Stanton, Fernandina Beach, Fleming Island, Middleburg, Lake City Columbia.

Individuals: Kathleen Crawley, Candace Aldrige, Bishop Kenny; Jayne Cannaliato, Elena Manaute, Menendez; Ryan Donaldson, Kate Kirby, Suwannee.

Region 1-3A, Hawkstone Golf and Country Club, Gainesville, 10 a.m.

Teams: Beachside, Ponte Vedra.

Individuals: Aspen Bikowski, Ashley Mikesell, Bartram Trail.

Region 2-1A, Seven Springs Golf and Country Club, Spring Hill, 11 a.m.

Individual: Danielle Dailey, St. Joseph Academy.

Nov. 6

Region 1-1A, Golden Eagle Country Club, Tallahassee, 8:30 a.m.

Teams: Bolles, Providence

Individuals: Sahan Chokshi, Episcopal; Addy Vogt, St. Johns Country Day; Zoe Elixon, Union County.

*-Additional at-large teams and individuals may be added.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Ponte Vedra boys advance as at-large team after tying for third in 2-3A