FLEMING ISLAND - Much like other outdoor sports in the area, the rain that has been one of the highlights of September has also been one of the obstacles of area golf teams.
"We faced about 10 days of not even being able to get on the driving range or go to the course at all," said Fleming Island coach Bruce Cloud, who is looking to repeat as a state champion; this time in Class 2A as well as seeing his Class 3A individual champion Tyler Mawhinney, who has competed in a handful of major national tournaments, repeat that title. "We should be getting into post-season shape by the time districts roll around. Fortunately, Tyler Mawhinney has probably played more golf than anyone else on the team and is doing rather well for himself."
With districts about a month away, area golfers hope to get less rain and more golf in as they prepare for the postseason.
With Fleming Island High's boys team in the midst of defending their class 3A title (now in Class 2A) this year with just about the entire team returning from 2023, the amount of course time for September has been reduced significantly by rain. The Golden Eagles, now in Class 2A and ranked third behind American Heritage of Palm Beach and Broward (both top 10 Class 2A 2023), are currently ranked at just 14th state-wide, but with only five matches recorded with many of the teams in the top 10 statewide in double figures. American Heritage (Palm Coast) has 16 rounds of play in Region 4-2A action.
"I wasn't real familiar with 2A talent, except Ponte Vedra and Beachside but as luck would have it, both teams moved up to 3A as we moved down," said Cloud. "It's the teams down south that we need to study up for and see exactly what we're going to face. In the end, the real challenge will be the golf course and playing it like we know we can."
First, the Randy Warren Memorial Invitational, one of the biggest area invites featuring some of the best teams in Florida, was rescheduled for Monday, September 30 after being postponed earlier from September 11.
With the likes of Episcopal, Ponte Vedra, Fletcher, Windermere, Spruce Creek, Columbia, Winter Park, and Bolles having been on the team roster at last year's Randy Warren, Monday's event could be a springboard for the Fleming Island boy's team after their most recent finish was a 140-166 dual match win over Episcopal on September 19 led by a 33 score finish from defending 3A champion Tyler Mawhinney, now ranked second in Florida (1st in 2A) despite just three matches locally (Was in Canada winning major tournaments), and a second place 35 by junior Carson Moore, ranked 25th in 2A.
"He is constantly working on his game to get better but he also is helping our younger players get better," said Cloud. "He knows that it takes the whole team to win championships."
Fleming Island had six of seven guys under 41 with senior Dylan Frein hitting the 41.
Fleming Island's boys got nixed in a tri-meet with Clay and St. Johns Country Day School and also got half a tournament in at the Fletcher Invite on September 18.
In the only other match of consequence, Fleming Island's boys beat Bishop Kenny, 146-156 on August 28 with Mawhinney not playing, but Moore hitting for 33 and Ryan Houck second at 36.
Cloud had his team rise like a Phoenix from the dust of a disastrous region finish last year to spark the state run, and has not had a tough test for his team thus far.
"In the coming weeks, we should see our rankings improve," said Cloud. "I know the players are not happy with not playing but as we play more, their expectations will be hopefully met."
Clay's boys team has four hitters close to 40s with Jack Newell, Ian Garcia and John Martin all under 40; 38, 39, 40, in a September 18 win (158-186-188) at Eagle Landing with Bradford and Middleburg. Clay's depth includes the rest of their lineup all in the 40s for a seven-man lineup capable of low team scores.
In a September match with Keystone Heights, Middleburg won with Garcia and Newell on top; 36 and 39, in a field that had the top nine under 50 with Keystone Heights scoring a 3-4-5 with Jacob Beach 42, Nathaniel Bardier 44 and Ty Mitzel 46.
Clay hit a solid 163 with Newell 36, Garcia 39, and all but one golfer under 46; Andrew Caudill 49 to push a solid team score potential.
Oakleaf had a solid player in Salomon Pelayo, a sophomore, with a 44 against Clay.
A match that put Clay against Fleming Island was canceled from rain.
Ridgeview is led by senior Joseph Derosa with a 38 against Menendez on September 17 and a 36 against Orange Park on September 16 at Eagle Harbor Golf Club. Derose has improved his game from a 45 at Eagle Harbor against Middleburg on September 3.
For St. Johns Country Day School, freshman Beckham Cummings has games of 35 as recent as September 25 at Eagle Harbor with seventh grader Fletcher Cummings hitting a 36 on the same course. Beckham Cummings has mostly sub-40 scores through September.
Keystone Heights has been led by senior Ty Mitzel, who has had 40s and 41s through the season.

For the Fleming Island girls, minus two key seniors, the season has been a learning curve for their four and five golfers as senior Kathryn McNeill (81st in 2A) and Chloe Blanc (47th in 2A), plus sophomore Shayla Abbas (78th in 2A) have carried the team to a tactic of strong 1-2-3 finishes then hope the gap is enough for 4-5s to finish the course with improvements each match.
Blanc recently hit a 38 at Hawkstone in a dual win over Buchholz with Abbas at 40 and McNeill at 43, but four and five came in at 66 and 73.
The Fleming Island girls had two meets canceled due to rain so the learning curve was deterred and their state return could be in jeopardy.
With McNeill and Blanc both able to stay near 40, Fleming Island's team will always be in the mix, but, as in a loss to Columbia with Columbia landing a 38 and 42 up top with three more in the 40s; 46, 47, 48, Fleming Island, who did not have Abbas needs low scored from the 4-5-6s. Blanc and McNeill hit 41 and 40 in late August and have kept that trend for September.
Middleburg's girls have had the hot hand and a little rainy luck with the Lady Broncos, led by a pair of freshmen; Emily Martin (146th in 2A) and Jordan Bork (195th in 2A), may be the surprise of the upcoming regional battles with the Broncos now tied into Region 1-2A with Fleming Island.
The Lady Broncos have been scorching courses to a 6-0 record with a double win over West Nassau and Bishop Snyder on September 18; Martin, Bork 1-2 48 and 52, and a 99-146 win over Orange Park on September 17; Martin, Bork 1-2 46 and 53, and a late August 216-246 win over Oakleaf; Bork, Martin 3-4 46 and 50.
Against Oakleaf (3A), Middleburg got to see astounding scores of 34 and 39 from the St. Johns Country Day School's duo of Addy Vogt, a recent commit to Rollins College, and sophomore Addison Kipnis, who comprise the entire Spartan team.
Vogt (44th in 1A with five matches), a state meet finisher in Class 1A last year, will probably return to state as her consistency under 40 is clear; including a 40 in August against Buchholz and Fleming Island. Kipnis (179th in 1A) has improved from a 51 in that meet to her 41 against Oakleaf and Middleburg.
Oakleaf's top finisher has been senior Emma Farrar, who hit a 45 in a match with Clay.

District 4-Region 1-Class 2A
Clay, ED White, Fleming Island, Menendez, Middleburg, Palatka, Ridgeview, St.Augustine, Wolfson