Somerset Academy’s Salemi and Heritage’s Carlin are Broward Golf Coaches of the Year
A year after it finished last in its district, Pembroke Pines Somerset Academy’s boys reached new heights this season.
And while American Heritage’s girls didn’t come away with another state title, they maintained their high standards with another top finish among Broward County schools.
As such, Somerset Academy’s Marco Salemi and American Heritage’s Mike Carlin are this year’s Miami Herald Broward County Golf Coaches of the Year.
Salemi, in his first season coaching the Panthers, guided them to a fourth-place finish at the Class 3A meet. It was the best finish ever for Somerset Academy, which finished in the cellar of its district last season.
The Panthers’ two-day score of 615 at state was a Broward County best and the eighth best score at state regardless of classification.
A major reason for Somerset’s turnaround was the duo of sophomore Gabriel Holtz and senior Elijah Zamarron. Holtz placed sixth at state and won a district individual title while Zamarron placed 16th at state and was third at regionals.
Under Carlin’s guidance, Heritage’s girls finished as state runners-up in Class 2A. The Patriots came up three strokes short of state champion Beachside, but actually shot better than they did last season at state.
The performance didn’t secure the title, but it kept Heritage’s streak alive of going home with either a state championship or runner-up trophy for the 13th consecutive season. Heritage has won seven state titles during that span. This season, Heritage dominated once again led by senior Katherine Schaefer as well as senior Alessandra Tabora, freshman Aryanah Ahmad and eighth-grader Nicole Wu.
Heritage dominated the scene locally once again, winning multiple tournaments and securing district and regional titles.
But the Patriots didn’t leave completely empty-handed when it came to championships as Schaefer secured her first state individual title after shooting a two-day score of 140.
