Pine Crest’s Nitowski and Spitzig are the Broward Golf Coaches of the Year
Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest’s golf programs have seen a return to prominence in recent years.
While each of their boys’ and girls’ programs have won a state championship in the past, it’s been nearly three decades (1996) since the Panthers last achieved such a milestone.
But last season, Pine Crest had a boys’ golfer win an individual state title.
While none brought home gold this season, the Panthers showed off the depth they have begun to build on both of their teams as each finished among the best in the state.
The architects of both of these efforts, Pine Crest boys’ coach Karl Nitowski and girls’ coach Mark Spitzig, are the Miami Herald’s Broward Golf Coaches of the Year.
The Panthers’ sweep of these awards comes fresh off a pair of top 10 finishes at the Class 1A state meets.
Nitowski, the Boys’ Coach of the Year, led his squad to a sixth-place finish at state, which included an impressive team round of 286 to lead the field after the first day of the meet. Senior Alexander Weinberg, who won the aforementioned first individual state championship in school history in 2023, led Pine Crest with a fifth-place finish after shooting a two-day score of 143. The effort included a round of 67 on the first day.
The Panthers showed off their depth in prior rounds as well, winning the district and regional championships. Pine Crest loses Weinberg, a Duke signee, but will return a young, but experienced core of golfers led by his younger brother, Jonathan, as well as freshman Hoating Zhou.
On the girls’ side, Spitzig’s team finished ninth at state in Class 1A, but posted a two-day score of 616, which was the lowest of any Broward team competing at the state championships this season.
Pine Crest also secured a district title and finished second in a tough Region 4-1A meet.
Weinberg’s sister, Stephanie, a freshman, led the Panthers girls by placing a Broward-best 37th at state. Eighth-grader Madison Logan, freshman Ada Kim, freshman Morgan Cole and sophomore Vanessa Georgescu add to their depth returning next season for another potential state run.
