- April 19, 2024
-
-
Loading
Loading
The Windermere Prep boys golf team raced out to a two-stroke lead after the first day of play at the FHSAA Class 1A Golf State Championships Oct. 28, shooting a collective 309.
For good measure, the Lakers shaved two strokes off that total on the second and final day of the state tournament Oct. 29, helping the team to coast to a state championship with a seven-stroke advantage of state runner-up Lake Mary Prep.
The state tournament took place at the Mission Inn Resort and Golf Club in Howey-in-the-Hills.
“It’s fantastic for the program,” head coach Kyle McClone said. “Our goal is to grow it and we keep getting better and better.”
The state title comes after consecutive years of Windermere Prep placing third in the state tournament. It is an achievement especially meaningful to someone such as senior Manuel Girona, who has been on the team for seven years.
“It means the world to me,” Girona said. “It’s something we’ve been going for. It’s been seven years but the last three years (were) when we’ve really had a chance.”
McClone, who is in his second year as the head coach for the Lakers, said a variety of factors contributed toward the team getting over the hump this time.
“We limited the mistakes … and I think everybody liked each other and everybody had a lot of fun through the whole year,” McClone said.
Having an experienced final five golfers — four of whom are seniors — also helped Windermere Prep stay focused on its way to the top.
“To have (the seniors) go off as winners is very special,” McClone said.
The championship makes two for the private school in one calendar year, after the Lakers boys basketball team won the Class 3A State Championship in the spring.
“It’s definitely an exciting time to be a Laker — there’s definitely a lot of momentum,” Athletic Director Jacob Doss said. “Our headmaster and our whole administration puts a lot of focus on athletics, and it makes our kids feel awesome.”
Contact Steven Ryzewski at [email protected].
