OBC GOLF preview
The 2022 high school golf season got underway this week, and despite losing some talented players to graduation, the St. Cloud Bulldogs will be the favorite to once again win both Orange Belt Conference girls and boys championships next month.
Last year, both the Bulldogs boys’ and girls’ teams placed all five of their golfers on the All-OBC team, as the Lady Bulldogs easily outdistanced Celebration by 21 shots; the boys team had five golfers shoot in the 70s to break 300 and win by 27. Royal St. Cloud professional Jim Endicott coaches both squads and says he feels good about the Bulldogs continuing their dominance as the Lady Bulldogs shoot for their sixth consecutive county championship; while the boys are seeking their fourth straight.
Morgan Beaulieu, a four-time OBC champion who tied for fourth at the FHSAA Class 3A State Championship before signing with Arkansas State, is their most notable loss. Still, St. Cloud returns plenty of firepower to the girls’ lineup including Jenna Barnett, a senior who brings a nine-hole scoring average of 38 into the season.
She will be backed by a pair of solid juniors in Caayden Challacombe (43) and Tess Sheive (43); while freshman Karolyn Adams (41 avg.) is the program’s next potential star in the making.
“Although we lost a star player in Morgan, I am really excited about this team,” Endicott said. “The returning players have worked incredibly hard this year to improve and we are also welcoming some new additions to the team that may give us the ability to match or exceed the great accomplishments from last year. A sixth straight OBC title and a return to the state championship is certainly our goal.”
The Bulldogs boys team lost considerable talent to graduation including all conference standouts Austin Price and Eric Hernandez, but Endicott will once again field a deep squad. Senior Gunner Green brings a nine-hole scoring average of 37 to the table; while junior Alex Owen (38) and sophomore Espen Pool (40) have the talent to shoot in the 70s for 18. Ethan Parrish is the top freshman on the team and has an impressive scoring average of 38.
“We are not as deep as last year, but the starting four should be as strong as any team we have had in my six years as head coach,” Endicott said. “This will be one of my youngest teams ever as we only have one senior in the lineup. That said, our goals will be to repeat at OBC and district champions and try to make a run to the state championship tournament.”
Returning players Andrew Arabian and Ethan Badillo are expected to anchor Celebration’s boys team in 2022.
Harmony, which finished third overall in girls and boys, hopes to improve according to Coach Jason Wright. Top players for the Longhorns include sophomore Cesar Gandia and senior Rutger Doe; while freshman Rogerick Palmer has posted some impressive scores in the pre-season.
“We have a great group of athletes that have been working hard to improve each day,” Wright said. “Our goal is to get better each week and be able to play our best golf in October.”
Wright who also coaches the Lady Longhorns, returns All-OBC senior Jordan Pigeon. Sophomore Aryana Persaud is a solid No. 2, and Alyssa Kane is the top newcomer.
Although it may not be able to field a full team, Tohopekaliga has several promising young players who will compete as individuals, including Marcel Moran and Makenna Day.
