Belen’s Rodriguez and Palmer Trinity’s Bacardi are the Miami-Dade Golfers of the Year
Consistency and hard work often pays off.
This was the motto for this year’s Miami-Dade Golfers of the Year - Belen’s Lorenzo Rodriguez and Palmer Trinity’s Remi Bacardi.
Rodriguez had been ascending steadily among the county’s top golfers for the past couple of seasons.
He saw his journey reach new heights this season when he secured the individual state championship in Class 2A after shooting impressive rounds of 70 and 75 on back-to-back days.
Rodriguez became Dade’s first boys’ individual champion since Columbus’ James Vargas in 2001.
Meanwhile, Bacardi earned her third consecutive Miami Herald Girls’ Golfer of the Year honor after she once again posted the best score of any county golfer at the state meet following another impressive season.
Rodriguez wasn’t just impressive at the state meet, though.
He arrived there on a pretty good roll after shooting a district meet record 63 to win that tournament and then followed up with a round of 68 that helped him finish sixth at the tough Region 4-2A meet.
Rodriguez’s average was a staggering 67.7 for the season.
Only a junior, Rodriguez already has his sights set on repeating the feat next season before he takes the next step to playing at the collegiate level.
“I’m really grateful to see that the work has paid off and it feels great,” Rodriguez said. “My parents supported me throughout the way. It’s definitely a goal to go back-to-back and inspire younger Belen players to do the same thing or even better than me.”
Bacardi’s goal is to reach the same milestone Rodriguez did and win a state title.
But she has been progressing each season while becoming one of the state’s best.
Bacardi, who said she idolizes pro golfer Jordan Speith and often plays golf with PGA Tour golfer and Miami Palmetto grad Erik Compton, reached rare territory with her third consecutive Golfer of the Year honors.
This season, Bacardi once again finished with multiple tournament titles, winning the Youth Fair crown with a round of 66 as well as a district championship. She shot a two-day combined score of 145 at the state 1A meet - best among Dade girls’ golfers - to place in the top 10.
“I play year round and really just focus on my game and trying to get better,” Bacardi said. “Not playing to go out and win, but just playing to improve instead of wanting to beat the other player. I just try to be the best player I can be.”
