By Rick Pedone

Sports Editor

It was all orange at the Orange Belt Conference golf tournaments Monday as Harmony won both the boys and girls championships.

The Longhorns (316), playing at Kissimmee Bay, won for the second straight year over Osceola (329), Celebration (335), St. Cloud (349), Liberty (416) and Poinciana (436). Gateway did not have a team score.

Harmony’s girls (373) won their first conference golf championship at Royal St. Cloud Golf Links over Osceola (386) and St. Cloud (395). The other schools did not have team scores (minimum of four golfers).

Harmony’s Tyler Bennett, a sophomore, shot 2-under 69 to win the boys individual championship. Teammate Corey Herman shot par-71 to tie St. Cloud’s Caleb Sibley for second place.

Harmony’s Corbin Smith and Ryan McKinney both shot 88 to complete the Longhorns’ team score.

St. Cloud senior Erica Dukes shot a 77 to win the girls championship by seven strokes over Liberty’s Alice Munn.

The county’s golfers return to action Monday at the 2A-17 district tournaments. The girls will play at Falcons Fire and the boys will compete at Royal St. Cloud. Both tournaments begin at 9 a.m.

The top three teams from the district and the top three individuals not on a qualifying team will advance to the regionals Oct. 22 at Viera.

Viera, Palm Bay, Eau Gallie, Bayside and Melbourne join the Osceola County schools in 2A-17.

Joining Bennett, Harmon and Sibley on the boys all-OBC team (top seven scores) were Celebration’s Grafton Mouen (74), Osceola’s Angelo Chiarelli and Blake Sorenson (77) and Celebration’s Noah Perez (83).

After Dukes on the girls all-conference team are Liberty’s Alice Munn (84), Harmony’s Madison Wetzel and Celebration’s Sarah Stellwag (85), Harmony’s Lauren Bishop and Osceola’s Charlie Muzeka (91), and Osceola’s Kiera Koroitamudu and Sydney Mason (94).

Lady Longhorns Coach Robert Hainlen said his team has improved dramatically through the season.

“The ladies are setting new standards every time we play,” he said. “We have improved our average scores with each match. We actually improved our previous 18-hole score over one week by 31 strokes. We are definitely looking forward to districts.”

Rachel Cowart (98), Meredith Hendren (99) and Kylie Wetzel (109) also scored for Harmony.

St. Cloud Girls Coach Eric Godfrey said Dukes is capable of shooting a lower score at the district tournament.

“She left three strokes on the greens, missing some short putts. If she can find those strokes, it is going to be an awesome day for her,” he said. “I’m looking for a good showing from my girls Monday.”

Osceola Girls Coach Ray Lackey said Muzeka might have shot a better round if she hadn’t been ill.

“Charlie was coming down with something,” he said. “Kiera was off just a bit and had one really bad hole that blew up her score. As a coach, you like to see your team peaking all at the same time, but it doesn’t always work that way. Harmony played well and earned the team title. Placing three on the OBC was exciting for OHS and I’m very excited for Charlie, Kiera and Sydney.”

The Osceola County coaches said defending district champion Viera, the 2010 state champion, is a favorite at the girls district tournament while Harmony, Osceola and St. Cloud all have a chance to advance.

Harmony Boys Coach Jerry Piester said his team would be in the hunt for the boys district title.

“If we shoot that well (similar to the OBC score) Monday, we should be close,” he said.

Viera is the defending boys champion.

Last year, Osceola and St. Cloud advanced to the girls regional tournament and Harmony advanced to the boys regionals.

From the regional tournament, the top two teams and the top two individuals not on a qualifying team advance to the state tournament.