Defending girls, boys champs will be challenged

By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

County golf teams will compete for the Orange Belt Conference championship Monday at Royal St. Cloud Golf Links (girls) and Kissimmee Bay Country Club.

The girls will begin at 8 a.m. in St. Cloud, while the boys will start at noon at Kissimmee Bay.

Both defending champions – Harmony’s boys and Osceola’s girls – will be in the hunt, but there should be plenty of competition, according to the coaches.

“We have shot, but it will be tight,” Harmony Boys Coach Jerry Piester said. “Celebration, St. Cloud, Osceola and us. It depends on who shows up that day. We average between 166 and 170 (per 9-hole match). I think 312 (for 18 holes) will win it.”

Kowboys Coach George Coffey sees it the same way.

“The big four schools, Osceola, Harmony, St. Cloud and Celebration. It could be any one of the four,” he said.

Bulldogs Coach Shane Muller said consistency will be the key.

“I think we have a pretty good shot at winning. It really just depends on what team of our shows up,” he said. “Week to week we are always different. We have a ton of potential, but lack consistency right now.”

Celebration Coach Mike Pagano said his team has performed well despite numerous rain delays.

“Our boys  have been playing pretty well as of late and we hope to continue playing well into the tournament,” he said. “I think it will be a close match. We’ve been averaging around 170 for nine holes, which puts us right there with the other teams.”

Ray Lackey, coach of the Lady Kowboys, expects a tight race between his team, St. Cloud and Harmony for the girls title.

“Harmony seems to be scoring the most consistently. St. Cloud and Osceola have been up and down, so we will have to see who is ready to play on Monday. The team that can get their No. 4 and No. 5 players to score will win,” he said.

Liberty’s Alice Munn is a favorite to win the individual title, Lackey said. She will be challenged by Osceola’s Kiera Koroitamudu and Charlie Muzeka, St. Cloud’s Erica Dukes, Kelly Johnson and Lacy Makinson, Celebration’s Sara Stellweg and Harmony’s Madison Wetzel and Lauren Bishop, Lackey said.

Harmony Girls Coach Robert Hainlen said his team is ready for the challenge.

“We are the people to beat,” he said. “It will come down to who has the better day between Harmony, Osceola and St. Cloud.

“We are all highly matched and it will take a solid round of average or better golf for each of my ladies to pull it out,” he said.

St. Cloud Girls Coach Eric Godfrey, in his first season, said the team’s prospects may hinge on the underclassmen like Elaina Davis and Samantha Fisher.

“Each has reduced her score by at least 13 strokes from the beginning of the season,” he said.

Makinson, Johnson and Dukes, all seniors, have been solid through the season, Godfrey said.

“Kelly has dropped five strokes from her game and seems to be peaking at just the right moment for this tournament,” he said.

“I was impressed with the talent that I was given with my seniors, but I am even more impressed with the talent and potential of my underclassmen.”