American Heritage girls’ golf wins third state title in a row, boys finish second

Going to the 17th hole on the final day of the Class 2A state championship tournament at the Mission Inn Resort & Golf Club, Plantation American Heritage girls coach Mike Carlin told junior Katherine Schaefer she had to birdie the final two holes.

Not to win the team title, that was already in the bag, but to force a playoff for the girls’ individual state championship.

Schaefer ended up being one birdie short, but it was still all hugs and smiles as American Heritage completed a three-peat – winning its third consecutive Class 2A girls’ golf championship and 11th overall title with a composite score of 615 (309-306) through the two-day, 36-hole stroke play tournament.

The Patriots had to overcome a bit of a shaky start and hold off a Ponte Vedra team that shot a tournament-best 305 Wednesday to come away with the team crown. Ponte Vedra ended up seven strokes behind (622) while Seabreeze (657) and Delray Beach American Heritage (665) finished third and fourth respectively.

Archbishop McCarthy rounded out the top five, shooting a composite 668 (330-338).

Carlin wasn’t quite sure if it was his first three-peat as a coach, but he was thrilled for what it meant for American Heritage, nonetheless.

“It’s a pretty big accomplishment considering where we were at the start of the year,” Carlin said. “We were a little skeptical coming into the year. But the girls came together and showed how hard work, dedication, and commitment to practicing and getting better each day can pay off in the end.”

“We continue to work hard every year. We’ve been here enough times...we know what it takes to get here and be successful here. All the stuff that we do during the year – the way we train, the tournaments we travel to – we’re building up [the team] and conditioning them to get ready for this.”

“We continue to keep the same template year after year because it seems to be working,” Carlin said with a grin.

Schaefer, who sank nine birdies during the tournament, ended up leading American Heritage, shooting 141 (71-70) and was one of two girls’ golfers that finished below par on the scenic, yet challenging Los Colinas (par-71) course at Mission Inn.

Alessandra Tobora shot 151 (74-77) while seventh graders Laura Monsalve and Nicole Wu shot 154 and 169 respectively and helped power the Patriots throughout.

“Laura probably played the best round she’s played all year,” Carlin boasted. “For [Laura and Nicole] to play the way they did on a big stage like this on a hard course like this is amazing and exciting. I’m very proud of them.”

Ponte Vedra’s Nancy Cox had the best individual performance of round two, shooting 2-under-par while Matanzas’ Alexandra Gazzoli won the individual state title shooting 140 (68-72).

Like Heritage, Archbishop McCarthy got solid performances from young golfers – being led by junior Eva Almaguer’s 158 and sophomore Audrey Bacic’s 163.

On the boys’ side, American Heritage fell short of defending its Class 2A team title, finishing in second place behind Ponte Vedra Wednesday.

The Patriots trailed Ponte Vedra by five strokes after day one of the tournament and the teams played even – both shooting 304 on the El Campeon course Wednesday – giving the Sharks the team title. Ponte Vedra, competing in Class 2A for the first time this season after being in Class 3A previously, earned its sixth consecutive team championship and eighth overall boys’ golf team title.

Delray American Heritage finished fourth with a 624 (312-312) score and Archbishop McCarthy was right behind shooting a composite 637 (312-325). North Broward Prep and Miami Belen Jesuit also finished in the top eight in team totals, shooting 647 and 653 respectively.

American Heritage Director of Golf Brandt Moser, who has been filling in for boys coach Nick Pincket as he’s been out over the past month dealing with a personal family issue, consoled senior Rafael Frias at the end of the round Wednesday.

“You have nothing to hang your head about,” Moser told the senior as they hugged. “You did your best and you fought to the end. That’s what matters.”

Moser said his team’s performance this week and over the past few years is product of their ability to be prepared for the grind of the state tournament.

“In the last couple weeks, the team really picked it up and solidified. Credit Ponte Vedra – that’s an outstanding program. They’re senior-laden, well-coached, and did a great job today. They left some guys at home this week that might’ve been top 10 scorers as well, that’s how good they are,” Moser began.

“We’ve been fortunate to have some incredible families and kids in our program and we have an amazing administration that allows us to do the things we need to do to be competitive. We see what it means that we’re able to play 18-hole matches during the season so when we get to the state tournament, which is 36 holes, our guys are ready.”

Eighth grader Sohan Patel led the Patriots, shooting a team-best 145 – the third-best total score for the tourney.

Belen’s Lorenzo Rodriguez was fourth on the individual leaderboard with his 146 (69-77) and American Heritage senior Maximiliaan Govaerts and North Broward Prep senior tied for 10th with composite scores of 150.