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Hernando Today

Explorer Earns Second Win

Staff photo by BOB EAST III

Explorer's Emma Betters chips onto the green on the second hole Wednesday at Oak Hills Golf Club.

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By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

Hernando Today

Published: October 8, 2008

SPRING HILL - First-year Explorer K-8 hasn't gotten rolled over in its inaugural campaign on the links. In fact, the Bobcats can now boast two victories on the season.

Wednesday afternoon Explorer hosted Fox Chapel at Oak Hills Golf Club, a course located almost exactly between the two campuses on Northcliffe Blvd.

The Bobcats improved to 2-3 on the season, adding to an earlier win over West Hernando by defeating Fox Chapel (0-5), 216-280.

The collective score of 216 trumped their previous season-low in last week's 195-220 loss to J.D. Floyd.

"I believe it's probably our best performance of the year so far," Explorer Head Coach Jason Yungmann said. "Every week my players are getting better and better. I wish we could play longer because I feel with a little more time, we're really going to be able to compete."

The season ends in two weeks with the Hernando County Middle School Athletic Conference Tournament, leaving only one more week of regular-season matches.

Eight-grader Avery Kemp led the Bobcats with a match-low of 48 across the par-36, 2,639-yard front nine.

Stephanie Rodney added a 53, Cael Shea a 56 and Nick Persico a 59. Emma Betters shot 65 and Joshua Carr a 68, though only the top four figured into the team score.

"It's nice to be at our course," Yungmann said. "It's a long course, so that's definitely to our advantage. Players like Nick Persico and Avery Kemp had good, long drives in the fairways, which I think really helped.

"It's more of a positive reinforcement for them. It's definitely a confidence booster. I think they'll take that into every week in county competition and try to compete with such a high level of players in this county."

Michael Gray posted the best round for the Tigers with a 57. Richard Grimaldi shot 68, Chase Spaid 75 and Amber Piazza 80.

"They played as good as they could play," Fox Chapel Head Coach David Harris said. "They had a lot of fun. We have a really young team.

"We didn't win, but they won in the experience end of it. They had a good time and that's what middle school sports is all about."

EXPLORER 216, FOX CHAPEL 280
Explorer (216): Avery Kemp 48, Stephanie Rodney 53, Cael Shea 56, Nick Persico 59.
Fox Chapel (280): Michael Gray 57, Richard Grimaldi 68, Chase Spaid 75, Amber Piazza 80.
Records: Explorer (2-3), Fox Chapel (0-5).

Sports writer Chris Bernhardt Jr. can be reached at (352) 544-5288 or cbernhardt@hernandotoday.com.

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