If ever the phrase “young veterans” was applicable to describe a group of athletes, it is with the Oak Hall girls golf team.
The Eagles are qualifiers in the Class 1A state tournament for the second consecutive year and will begin play today at Ocala’s Golden Hills Golf & Turf Club. But here is the interesting part: OHS’s five are made up of four eighth-graders and a freshman, each of whom has competed on this stage before.
Oak Hall coach Jill Stupianski said leading such a talented group of young players has been enjoyable.
“It’s a lot of fun,” said Stupianski, whose 2008 team finished 11th, with a score of 721 at The Club at Eaglebrooke in Lakeland. “One of the nice things is their enthusiasm. They are so enthusiastic whether it’s playing or in practice. They always go out there with a lot of energy.”
The Eagles’ top golfer is Lauren Gros, who shot 76-76-152 (+8) to place 21st individually as a seventh-grader. Taylor Tomlinson (83-93-176) finished tied for 47th, Caroline Holloway (105-90-195) tied for 65th and Chandler Whitefield (104-94-198) was 70th. Only the top four scorers count in team standings, but Bridget Joyner’s 115-131-246 placed her 86th overall individually.
Gros (on pace to perhaps become one of the area’s best golfers), Tomlinson, Holloway and Whitefield are eighth-graders, while Joyner is the old lady of the group as a ninth-grader.
“All of them have improved a lot since last year,” Stupianski said. “Hopefully, we’ll see the improvement in the scores because they all worked very hard in the offseason and the summer to get better where they needed to.”
Usually, teams count on an older player or two to serve as leaders. However, the Eagles, second to Jacksonville Providence at the 2-1Aregionals, look to everyone.
“Because each player is so invested in what we are trying to accomplish, they’ve all taken on leadership roles,” Stupianski said. “They talk to each other in practice, and everyone encourages everyone else.
“They’ve all come together to help out on the course and off it.”
http://www.gainesville.com
Oak Hall coach Jill Stupianski said leading such a talented group of young players has been enjoyable.
“It’s a lot of fun,” said Stupianski, whose 2008 team finished 11th, with a score of 721 at The Club at Eaglebrooke in Lakeland. “One of the nice things is their enthusiasm. They are so enthusiastic whether it’s playing or in practice. They always go out there with a lot of energy.”
The Eagles’ top golfer is Lauren Gros, who shot 76-76-152 (+8) to place 21st individually as a seventh-grader. Taylor Tomlinson (83-93-176) finished tied for 47th, Caroline Holloway (105-90-195) tied for 65th and Chandler Whitefield (104-94-198) was 70th. Only the top four scorers count in team standings, but Bridget Joyner’s 115-131-246 placed her 86th overall individually.
Gros (on pace to perhaps become one of the area’s best golfers), Tomlinson, Holloway and Whitefield are eighth-graders, while Joyner is the old lady of the group as a ninth-grader.
“All of them have improved a lot since last year,” Stupianski said. “Hopefully, we’ll see the improvement in the scores because they all worked very hard in the offseason and the summer to get better where they needed to.”
Usually, teams count on an older player or two to serve as leaders. However, the Eagles, second to Jacksonville Providence at the 2-1Aregionals, look to everyone.
“Because each player is so invested in what we are trying to accomplish, they’ve all taken on leadership roles,” Stupianski said. “They talk to each other in practice, and everyone encourages everyone else.
“They’ve all come together to help out on the course and off it.”
http://www.gainesville.com
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