Ransom’s Durham, SLAM’s Pedrique are the Miami-Dade Golfers of the Year
It’s rare when freshmen and sophomores dominate a sport at the highest levels.
In the case of Ransom Everglades’ Cole Durham and SLAM Miami Academy’s Marley Pedrique, that’s nothing new.
Both golfers continued to prove they are among the state’s best talents with multiple top-flight performances this past season.
Durham and Pedrique are the Miami Herald’s Miami-Dade County Boys’ and Girls’ Golfers of the Year respectively.
Durham, a freshman who moved down from New York a few years ago, earned the boys’ honors after a season full of triumphs, which helped Ransom advance to state for the ninth consecutive season and finish a Dade-best eighth overall.
Durham maintained an 18-hole average of 70.8 on his way to winning individual titles at Youth Fair, districts and at the Maverick Invitational. Durham also shot a 72 at regionals to place eighth.
He helped Ransom win the team title at both Youth Fair and districts, and is at the forefront of a young Raiders’ squad that’s hungry to build off this going into next season.
“I just tried to play the best I could throughout the season and I’m really grateful to have been given the opportunity to play high school golf at Ransom since middle school,” Durham said. “I want to just continue to improve my game and be able to lead my team, go out there and give it my best shot.”
Pedrique, a sophomore, had a career season, finishing third at the state Class 2A meet, while leading the Titans to a state runner-up finish behind only Plantation American Heritage.
Pedrique shot a combined 142 (72-70) over two days to finish just two strokes away from an individual title.
But Pedrique was remarkably consistent throughout the postseason, shooting a 70 at regionals to finish second and help SLAM finish tied for first with Heritage. At districts, she won the individual title and helped the Titans cruise to the team title after also shooting a round of 70.
