HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS - Fleming Island High defending Class 3A golf champion Tyler Mawhinney has often said the team title that he helped the Golden Eagles win last year in Class 3A was more important to him than repeating himself as state champion and the thought proved prophetic as the Golden Eagles, led by senior Emmet Kuhlenkamp's strong fifth-place finish, repeated as team champions, albeit in Class 2A this year, with Mawhinney finishing second by four strokes for the individual repeat as a handful of area golfers trekked to the Mission Inn Resort near Orlando for the FHSAA state golf championship week.
"The Golden Eagles boy's golf team repeated as state champions, this time in Class 2A, beating second-place American Heritage Palm Beach by 38 shots, the third highest margin of victory in Florida high school golf history," said Fleming Island golf coach Bruce Cloud, "Three players finished in the top 10 with all five players finishing in the top 25."
Fleming Island built a seemingly insurmountable 21-stroke lead after day one at the Class 2A championship with Mawhinney popping off a 4-Under 68 and Kuhlenkamp following suit with a 3-under 69 to put the Golden Eagles in control from the starter's pistol.
"The golf relationship between Tyler and Emmet is one of competitiveness and mutual respect as well as a brotherly bond in team success," said Cloud. "Dylan Frein showed his moxie by improving by 15 shots from day one to day two at the state tournament in helping the team win by a large margin."
Fleming Island led with a 291 team total after day one, and, ironically, a 291 on day two as well, with American Heritage (Palm Beach) a distant second at 312 and Bishop Moore Catholic third with a 313 making day two a battle for second place.
For the two days of golf, Fleming Island finished at 582 with American Heritage (Palm Coast) second at 620 and American Heritage (Broward) third at 622 and Bishop Moore Catholic fourth at 630. Ponte Vedra, now in Class 3A, was last year's 2A team champion with Beachside second. The Class 3A tournament is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, November 19-20.
Fleming Island totaled 583 in 2023 to win the Class 3A title with Mawhinney as the individual champion.
In the individual race, Mawhinney and American Heritage sophomore Sohan Patel, sixth in 2A last year, battled to a first-place tie with both nailing strong 68s while Kuhlenkamp and Belen Jesuit senior Lorenzo Rodriguez, the defending 2A champion, were just a stroke behind with 69s.
For Fleming Island, junior Carson Moore was third in with a 76, with junior Ryan Houck fourth with a 78, and senior Dylan Frein fifth with an 85.
"The day started early for the team as they started off a little slow but soon took the top spot and would hold on for the lead by 21 shots after the first round," said Cloud. "Tyler Mawhinney's 4-under par, 68, and Senior Emmet Kuhlenhamp's 3-under, 69 were just the impetus the team needed to finish at 291; one shot better than last year."
Mawhinney, Patel, and Rodriguez battled shoulder to shoulder as a trio in round one with Mawhinney opening with a bogie but answering with three birdies among five pars Patel lagging with one bogie, one birdie, and seven pars to trail by two after the first nine holes. Rodriguez was with Mawhinney with two birdies, one bogie, and six pars for a 34 to have the early lead with Kuhlenkamp also going nine in 34 with three birdies and one double bogie.
Patel scorched the back nine with a 33 off four birdies and five pars while Mawhinney had a bogie on the 11th hole. Kuhlenkamp stayed rock solid with two birdies and seven pars to stay in contention.
In round two, Patel had just one bogie with five birdies to take the lead on the final nine holes. Mawhinney had a second bogie on his first hole as he did in round one and fell off Patel's late pace with a 33 and 35 for the final 18.
Kuhlenkamp dropped his pace with a 77 but Frein and Houck picked up their pace in day two with Frein finishing with a strong 70 and Houck going 74.
"With a session at the driving range after the first round, Dylan Frein worked out the kinks he experienced the first day and was ready to rule the day," said Cloud. "Kuhlenkamp, tied for third after round one, shot a 5-over 77 to finish in third alone, besting his tie for sixth finish from the previous year."

Other Golf State Finishers

Class 1A: Addy Vogt, St. Johns Country Day School senior finished 49th in Class 1A with a two-round total of 155 (10-Over) with rounds of 74 and 81. Vogt is set to play college golf at Rollins College in Winter Park.

Class 2A: Chloe Blanc, Fleming Island senior finished 22nd in Class 2A with a 156 total with rounds of 81 and 75.