Golf preview: Senior star returns to Ransom, plus a freshman prodigy at Columbus
Ransom Everglades’ senior Hugo Stenstrom is the prodigal son of local golf, returning to his original school after a year away.
Sebastian Eterovic – a precocious freshman at Columbus – represents the future of local golf.
With high school golf season upon us, here’s a closer look at the aforementioned athletes:
STENSTROM
Until now, Stenstrom’s most surreal moment has been playing against The Benjamin School’s Charlie Woods, whose father was a pretty fair golfer in his day, a guy who goes by the name of Tiger.
“It’s crazy when you are playing and Tiger Woods is watching you,” Stenstrom said.
Stenstrom is an interesting case study.
As a sophomore, he led Ransom to fifth place at state, the best finish in program history.
After that, Stenstrom enrolled at IMG Academy for his junior season – with the promise to his parents that he would return to Ransom for 2025-2026, his senior year.
At IMG, Stenstrom was able to focus more on golf, and his overall game improved.
But Ransom is home. He first enrolled in Ransom in the sixth grade, and he has a lot of friends at the school.
Even so, it’s likely that nobody was as happy to see him return as Dave Ragan, who is set to start his 20th season as Ransom’s coach.
“He’s an elite golfer,” Ragan said of Stenstrom. “He hasn’t committed to a college yet. But, to me, he’s a Division I golfer.”
Including Stenstrom, Ransom returns four of its five starters and nine of its 12 team members from last year, when the Raiders won their district and finished 11th at state in Class 1A.
Ransom’s other top golfers are eighth-grader Axel Monssoh; freshman Cole Durham; and senior Matteo Bloom. In addition, Ransom has two transfers – one from Russia and one from England – who could push the team over the top if they are as good as advertised.
Meanwhile, Stenstrom, who ranks 18th in the state in his class, comes from an incredibly talented family, which has roots in Sweden.
His mother, Heather, was a volleyball setter in the Ivy League (Penn). His father, Cristian, played tennis at Bucknell.
Stenstrom’s maternal grandfather, Bill Tillett, played fullback and tight end at Oklahoma State. And Stenstrom’s paternal grandfather, Karl Stenstrom, played hockey on Sweden’s Youth National Team.
In addition, Stenstrom’s cousin, Jack Strenstrom, plays soccer in Madrid for Rayo Vallecano’s Under-21 team.
Stenstrom’s two younger sisters – Stella and Lily – are active in sports, too.
“When you’re in the Strenstrom family,” said Strenstrom, a 6-1, 155-pounder, “you play sports.”
ETEROVIC
After seven seniors led Columbus to district and region titles and a 14th-place finish at state last year, the Explorers essentially have an entirely new team.
The leader of this new squad is Eterovic, who won several youth tournaments over the summer. His most impressive win was at the Brendan Cunningham Junior Open, a 54-hole major in Naples.
Competing against golfers as old as 18, Eterovic shot an 11-under-par 205, winning by three strokes.
“Sebastian carries himself like a pro even though he’s just 14 years old,” Columbus coach Mike Marinelli said. “Usually guys his age have some skills, but they’re immature.
“Sebastian is composed and stoic. He hits fairways. He hits greens, and he has a great short game.”
Eterovic is just 5-8 and about 125 pounds. Since his father is about 6-1, according to Marinelli, Eterovic has a lot of growth potential, which should help him be longer off the tee.
Another talented Columbus golfer poised for a breakout season is Jake Williams, a sophomore.
“Jake practices his butt off,” Marinelli said. “He works so hard that sometimes you have to scale him back.”
The Explorers, who compete in Class 3A, are so skilled that they are one of only two Florida programs invited to Utah to compete in an elite tournament at Lone Peak High. Jacksonville’s Bolles is the other Florida school invited.
“We’re talented,” Marinelli said, “but we haven’t been tested.”
GIRLS’ GOLF
American Heritage returns three golfers who finished top-16 at state last year: junior Lilly Riegger; freshman Nicole Wu; and sophomore Aryanah Ahmad. Riegger and Wu made first-team All-Broward; and Ahmad and freshman Laura Monslave made second-team All-Broward.
Florida Christian is led by sophomore Ophelia Bunuel (80 average); senior Kaylie Gil (88 average); and senior Kianny Gil (90). Watch for sixth-grader Isa. Younger.
Carrollton graduated Frances Amat, who is now playing for Embry-Riddle. She is the first Carrollton graduate to play college golf in coach Grayson Zacker’s tenure. As for this season, the team’s top two golfers are sophomore Fernanda Carrion and junior Petra Compton. Carrion has been Carrollton’s top golfer since her sixth-grade year. Compton is the daughter of PGA player Erik Compton.
Palmer Trinity will try to replace Remi Bacardi, who is now at the University of Virginia. Palmer’s new top player is sophomore Danielle Hernandez.
Archbishop McCarthy will be aided by the addition of senior Abigail Lee and junior Elisa Hernandez.
Flanagan returns sophomore Yool Her, who was a state qualifier last season, as well as senior Justine Thiemens and freshman Tamiko Royce.
MORE BOYS’ GOLF
Pine Crest has won three region titles over the past four years, and the Panthers are looking for their first state championship since 1996. Last year, Pine Crest finished sixth at state. This year, the team will be led by senior Jonathan Weinberg. He finished 11th at state last year, and he will join his brother, Alexander Weinberg, as Duke golfers next season. Alexander Weinberg won an individual state championship in 2023. Other Pine Crest golfers to watch this year senior Ryan Altschul; junior Alejandro Forner Ibanez; and sophomores Finn Foster and Haoting Zhou.
Florida Christian has a sneaky-good golf program with graduates such as Nicholas Prieto (Wake Forest) and Mason Keisch (Navy). This year, the team will be led by seniors Kalani Centeno (first-team All-Dade in 2023) and Matthew Hernandez (first-team All-Dade in 2024). Eros Razuri-Hoyos is another experienced senior; and eighth-graders Agustin Bunuel and Chris Caso are set to make an impact.
Miami Country Day is led by freshman Grayson Richards, who won an individual district title last year.
Palmer Trinity is led by seniors Michael Joseph and Owen Eichhorn.
North Broward Prep’s Mike Richards is optimistic because he returns his entire team, led by senior Max Gressle and junior Cooper Roth.
Gulliver Prep returns three starters: juniors Bruno Ripalda and Conrad Weeman as well as senior Pedro Luque.
Archbishop McCarthy will be led by senior Marco Sanchez and junior Patrick Pinkney.
This story was originally published August 20, 2025 at 7:00 AM.