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Fleming Island girls golf oh, so close to state bid

By Randy Lefko
Posted 11/3/21

GAINESVILLE - Fleming Island High girls golf coach Brian Nedrich encouraged his five golfers heading to the region 1-3A championship match on the Monday after a homecoming Friday weekend to just be …

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Fleming Island girls golf oh, so close to state bid


Posted

GAINESVILLE - Fleming Island High girls golf coach Brian Nedrich encouraged his five golfers heading to the region 1-3A championship match on the Monday after a homecoming Friday weekend to just be ready to play a tough match on Monday.

"They were ready and they came through," was Nedrich's response after his girls team, led by freshman district champion Alyzabeth Morgan's top team score, finished fifth team at the region 1-3A championships behind a cadre of state powerhouses; Niceville, Lake Mary, Bartram Trail and Ponte Vedra. "Now we wait."

Nedrich's anticipation of a good decision on Tuesday night, maybe Wednesday night, is in lieu of the top three finishers get team invites to the state tournament while at-large bids go out to top teams off the top three from around the state.

"My gut says we are going to state which would be a first," said Nedrich, noting former coach Gary Anderson had state teams in 2013, 2014, 2015. "It's all based on the strength of course kind of stuff, level of competition and some computer stuff. Either way, I'm super proud of this team."

Morgan, who stormed to a district title last week, led the Fleming Island girls with a three over par 75 in her usual strong, steady style of play.

"She's a rock out there," said Nedrich. "Nothing phases her. She has that unique ability to go from hole to hole no matter good or bad and stay consistent."

Morgan, uncharacteristically, opened with a double bogie and bogie on the Hawkstone Country Club course in Gainesville, before settling in with four pars and two birdies for a strong first nine, then came back with a string of six pars, a birdie and just two double bogies for a 38-37 finish at 75.

The winner, Mariane Johnson of Niceville, led a trio of sub-70 finishers with her 68 just inching past 69s from Spruce Creek's Tylar Whiting and Buchholz High's Braydn Smith. Ponte Vedra's Nancy Cox, who was in Morgan's pairing at district and finished second to Morgan, tied with Morgan for 10th also with a 75.

Niceville beat Lake Mary by one stroke, 296-297, for the team title with Bartram Trail and Ponte Vedra both third at 330 and Fleming Island fifth at 332.

The rest of the Fleming Island golfers scored rounds of 82s for Kalia Polete and Cambree Hodge, both sophomores and rounds of 93 and 97 for seniors Jenna Roach and Kennedy Williams.

In the boys golf region 1-3A, Fleming Island junior Colton Swartz shot 79 to finish 35th to end his season. Fleming Island failed with much of last year's team that finished fifth at state to advance a team to the region tournament.