By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

The Osceola and St. Cloud girls golf teams and the Harmony boys qualified for the regional tournament Monday at the 2A-17 district golf tournaments.

Viera (373), the 2010 Class 2A girls state champion, won the district championship at Suntree Country Club, followed by Osceola (384) and St. Cloud (391).

Scoring for Osceola were Charlie Muzeka (91), Kiera Koroitamudu (94), Sydney Mason (96) and Karen Handlan (103).

St. Cloud’s Shelby Kessler (89) and Erica Dukes (90) placed third and fourth overall. Also scoring for St. Cloud were Kelly Johnson (106) and Lacy Makinson (106).

Celebration’s Natalie Benetti shot 79, placing second, to qualify as an individual along with her teammate Sarah Stellwag (93) and Liberty’s Alice Munn (92).

The top three teams and top three individuals not on qualifying teams advanced to the Region 6 tournament Monday at 9 a.m. at Magnolia Plantation Golf Club.

Harmony’s boys (321) were second behind Viera (303) at the boys tournament at Royal St. Cloud Golf Links. Melbourne (325) edged Osceola (334) for the third qualifying spot.

Scoring for the Longhorns were Tyler Howes (72, 2nd overall), Bryce Pace (82), Chad Williams (83), Tyler Bennett (84) and Blaine Janke (91). St. Cloud’s Caleb Sibley shot 78 and qualified as an individual by winning a playoff.

Royal St. Cloud also will host the Region 6 tournament Tuesday at 8 a.m.

OHS girls coach Ray Lackey said the regional tournament Monday will present an enormous challenge.

“The last three state champions (Viera and Lake Mary twice) are in the region, Spruce Creek is very strong as well and coming from the south, Jensen Beach was fourth last year,” Lackey said. “But, hey, even the great teams have off days, and if we are on ,who knows what might happen?”

St. Cloud Coach Jesse Lawrence said her team played well.

“They always perform best under the stressful situations,” she said. “Our team goal was to make it to regionals as a team instead of as individuals, and they really came through for each other.”

Harmony boys coach Jerry Piester said his team is capable of reaching the state tournament.

“I think we’ve got a shot if our putters get hot,” he said.

The top two teams and individuals from each region advance to the state tournament Nov. 1-2 at Mission Inn Resort at Howey-in-the-Hills.