FLEMING ISLAND - Fleming Island High state runner-up golfer Tyler Mawhinney was busy in Washington with the USA Junior National team and was not in town to defend his Randy Warren Memorial Golf Tournament title, so the Eagles counted on coach Bruce Cloud's top two players to battle at the Fleming Island Golf Club.

"You can't just replace a player like Tyler, but both Ryan (Houck) and Carson (Moore) put up good rounds against some top Class 3A players," said Cloud, as his team finished fifth with Houck as the top Golden Eagles finisher at one-over-par 73, good for 10th place, and Moore a stroke off Houck at 74 in 12th. "We had a bit of rain in the middle, and they played pretty good against the biggest field we have ever had here with 24 teams."
Beachside, which recently beat Fleming Island by one stroke in a dual meet, won the event with a 284-team score. Ponte Vedra, a 3A school, was second at 287 and 1A-Providence was third at 298. Oviedo (3A) was fourth at 303, and 2A-Fleming Island was fifth at 306.
"Right now, we are top-ranked in Class 2A, with Tyler and the defending state champion in 2A both tops in the state," said Cloud. "It all comes down to postseason play in the state tournament."
St. Johns Country Day School finished 14th, while Clay was 16th, Middleburg was 18th, Keystone Heights was 20th, Oakleaf was 21st and Orange Park was 24th.
The Spartans got a sterling performance from Beckham Cummings, a sophomore, who finished 12th with a 74. Clay's Jack Newell was 23rd at 76; Middleburg's Colton Taylor was 76th at 85; Keystone Heights' Nathaniel Bardier was 83rd at 88; Oakleaf's Andrew Downs was 87th at 89 and Orange Park's Evan Davies was 94th at 91 as team leaders.