Three shots.
That is all that stood between the Plant City High girls golf team and a spot in the 2012 state tournament.
This season, with a more experienced core, the Lady Raiders are going state championship or bust.
“Our goal is to win a state championship, and I feel that is very doable,” said senior captain Kellyanne Hurst.
Hurst leads the group of the top four retuning players, along with junior Lindsey Box and sophomores Kaylee McIntosh and Kendall Johnson.
The Lady Raiders finished third behind Palm Harbor by only three strokes in the Class 2A Region 4 tournament last fall, but Hurst believes the team has what it takes to make a run this year. Plant City advanced to state in 2010 and 2011, including winning regionals and finishing fifth at state in 2011.
“Our top four are pretty solid, and our beginners and some of our younger girls should push the top four to be better and play better,” Hurst said.
Coach Meg Jordan, who will be entering her 11th year, has grown accustomed to having talented players on her teams, including collegiate players Belinda George (North Florida), Shelby Johnson (preferred walk-on at Florida) and Kelsey Jensen (Seminole State), but Jordan feels this group is special.
“At the end of last year, I knew that I was going to be going into one of the best seasons just from a standpoint of personality, character and work ethic,” said Jordan, a 1985 Plant City alum and former Auburn University standout.”
THE RIGHT PATH
Through a collaboration of Hurst and Jordan, the team has created a mentorship program this year.
The program matches one of the older players with a younger player to act as an adviser, mentor and secondary coach.
“The younger girls look up to us, so we must be good role models and set a good example for them,” Hurst said. “We still have the team aspect, but this gives us the chance to have one-on-one attention with the younger girls, which allows us to get through to them more.”
Hurst’s mentee is freshman Savannah Kummelman, one of four newcomers on the team. Katy Johnson rounds out the nine-person squad as she returns for her senior season.
“Savannah is great, and things are going really well,” Hurst said. “This allows us to play and practice together at all times, whether we’re on the range, chipping or playing a round. That way, I’m there is she needs help with anything.”
Jordan is glad to have someone with the leadership characteristics of Hurst on the team.
“It’s the old story: The husband’s not going to listen to the wife, or the child isn’t going to listen to the parent, but they will listen to a peer,” Jordan said. “I can actually talk about things with Kellyanne, and she actually listens and then takes it on to the rest of the group, which is wonderful.”
THE NEXT STEP
Hurst hopes her team will get back to the state tournament and make a run at the program’s first state title, but if that doesn’t happen, she hopes to qualify as an individual.
“I just want to play the best I can and just go out and play my best every match,” she said. “I’ve had a really good summer and feel that I’m capable at finishing in the top five at state and possibly winning as an individual.”
When it comes to college, Hurst is keeping those options wide open.
In addition to shining on the golf course, Hurst shines in the classroom. She joined about 2,500 other high school students from throughout the country this summer at the Naval Academy’s 2013 Summer Seminar, in Annapolis, Md. She was also one of 10 Hillsborough County junior girls selected for the Dr. Sylvia Richardson Young Women of Promise Class of 2013 April 4, at the Athena Society’s 2013 Women of Promise Luncheon.
Hurst said the Naval Academy is an option for both school and golf, but she still is open to other options.
“I’m still trying to explore and see what schools would be the best fit for me,” she said. “I want to use golf to get me to a place where I can excel academically.”
Hurst currently is dual-enrolled at Hillsborough Community College and will take three AP classes this fall at PCHS and two classes at HCC. She plans to have one-and-one-half to two years of college credit completed before she graduates high school.
In addition to eying a state title in golf, Hurst will be preparing Box to take over her role as captain next year. Like Hurst, Box has played for PCHS since she was a freshman.
“We’ve been working together with stuff like ordering shirts and golf skirts,” Hurst said. “We’re kind of weaning her into being a captain.”
AROUND THE LINKS
PLANT CITY
Top returning
William George, SR. George returns for his senior season with the Raiders after qualifying for regionals as an individual last fall. George played in the group with the low-medalist from Newsome in the Class 2A District 10 tournament and shot a 73, good enough for third overall. He carded an 81 at regionals, failing to advance to state.
Outlook: After a season featuring a lot youth, Plant City has a solid nucleus returning, including George and fellow senior Jordan Genevie, along with sophomore Jared Driskell.
STRAWBERRY CREST
BOYS
Top returning
Greg Crandall, JR. According to head coach Scott Vomacka, Crandall should have a breakout junior season. Last season, he set a school record with a 40 in a round against Hillsborough and improved that with a 37 later in the season. Crandall fell short of qualifying for regionals after shooting an 86 in an 18-hole round at districts.
Outlook: The Chargers still are trying to build their young program, but Crandall could become the first player to qualify for regionals this year.
GIRLS
Outlook: According to Vomacka, the Strawberry Crest girls team will be young, with mostly beginners this season.
DURANT
BOYS
Top Returning
Chase Levesque, SR. Levesque qualified for regionals as an individual last season, shooting a 75 in the Class 2A District 10 tournament. At regionals, Levesque just missed qualifying for state, shooting a 78 against 77 qualifying scores from Mitchell High’s Dylan Strout and Palm Harbor’s Brent Hajian.
Outlook. With Levesque, along with sophomore Nick Little, the Cougars have some talent to compete this year. After barely missing the state cut, Levesque hopes to qualify as an individual as a senior, if Durant doesn’t make it as a team.
GIRLS
Top Returning
Samantha Rentz, SR.; Tori Higgins, JR.; and Krista Reinhardt, JR.
Outlook: Durant has a solid group returning that will be more experienced to make a run at a district title, an accomplishment the Lady Cougars missed last season, losing out to district champ Steinbrenner and runner-up Plant City.