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Hernando Today

Rule of the Day

Staff photo by BOB EAST III

Hernando High's Bobby Conway blasts out of a bunker on the first hole at The Dunes Golf Club during the 1A-9 boys golf tournament Tuesday.

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By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

Hernando Today

Published: October 14, 2008

Updated:

WEEKI WACHEE - Nature Coast Technical's Anthony Rule kept his composure and assured a return trip to regionals Tuesday afternoon.

The senior and third-year golfer shot 81 across the 6,744-yard course on a windy day, just good enough to advance out of the Class 1A, District 9 Tournament for a second straight year.

The top three teams and top three players not on those teams moved on to the Region III Tournament Monday at Gainesville Country Club.

"It feels good. Just enough things went right today. I'm proud of myself," Rule said. "Coming off the tee was big. I came off the tees really well. The greens were just brutal. It was really tough to make a par.

"This has been my goal all year to play good at districts and get to regionals. I felt confident. I've been working on my swing and practicing real hard. I like this course. It sets up pretty good for my type of play. It's open. I like that."

Citrus won overall with a 314 team tally, followed by Wiregrass Ranch (342) and Crystal River (346). Logan Horrigan of Wiregrass Ranch had the top individual score with a 73.

Kentaro Toyota of Bishop McLaughlin also qualified for regionals with a fourth-place 79, along with Rule and Saddlebrook's Alex Bensahel, tied for sixth overall.

"He kept it together," Nature Coast Head Coach Tom Brown said of Rule. "He had a stretch where he could have folded and he kept it together. He could have been really low today but he also could have blown up."

The Sharks had the best showing amongst the three Hernando County clubs in the 14-team field with a fifth-place 360. Hernando tied for seventh with a 363 and Hernando Christian Academy shot 484 in 14th.

Dayne Dukes added an 88 for Nature Coast, while Ryan Butler shot 94, Kevin Lain 97 and Greg Locke 98.

Zack Teele led Hernando with an 87, Jacob Geisler had a round of 90, Mike Anderson 91, Shawn Kish 95 and Bobby Conway 108.

HCA lost Brett Eastin to a knee injury during the tournament, leaving the Lions with just four players. Brandon Bilsborough paced the Lions at 104, followed by Keith McCall (114), Josh Weaver (118) and Austin Szempruch (148).

"I'm really happy that we got the experience," HCA Head Coach Steve Adams said. "I'm disappointed Brett got hurt. But hey, we broke 500, considering we had to count someone who's 150.

"For having a team again for the first time I'm very happy with the way the guys improved, especially their ability to overcome a bad shot or a bad hole. I think the best part was watching them improve."

1A-9 girls recap

At Saddlebrook, Hernando junior Lauren Shuford advanced to regionals for a third consecutive season with a round of 79, good for third overall in the 1A-9 girls' tournament.

Hernando finished fifth with a 474; Lauren Hallal shot 123, Tanvi Patel 124 and Hannah Spencer 148.

The Nature Coast girls came in eighth at 561, led by Nancy McCabe's 99. Alex Mahon shot 146, Kaitlyn Bugden and Chelsea Dunlop both 158, and Candy Mott 213.

BOYS: CLASS 1A, DISTRICT 9 TOURNAMENT
at The Dunes Golf Club

Team scores
1. Citrus (CIT) 314, 2. Wiregrass Ranch (WGR) 342, 3. Crystal River (CR) 346, 4. Saddlebrook (SB) 359, 5. Nature Coast (NCT) 360, 6. Pasco (PAS) 362, 7. Hernando (HER), Sunlake (SL) 363, 9. Bishop McLaughlin (BM) 367, 10. Zephyrhills (ZEP) 374, 11. Seven Rivers (SR) 420, 12. Academy at the Lakes (ATL) 449, 13. South Sumter (SS) 478, 14. Hernando Christian Academy (HCA) 484.

Individual scores
1. Logan Horrigan (WGR) 73, 2. Zachary Stanley (CIT) 74, 3. Ryan Connors (CIT) 78, 4. Kentaro Toyota* (BM) 79, 5. Austin Connors (CIT) 80, 6. Anthony Rule* (NCT), Alex Bensahel* (SB) 81.
* Regional qualifier

Hernando County scores
5. Nature Coast (360): Anthony Rule 81, Dayne Dukes 88, Ryan Butler 94, Kevin Lain 97, Greg Locke 98.
7. Hernando (363): Zack Teele 87, Jacob Geisler 90, Mike Anderson 91, Shawn Kish 95, Bobby Conway 108.
14. Hernando Christian Academy (484): Brandon Bilsborough 104, Keith McCall 114, Josh Weaver 118, Austin Szempruch 148, Brett Eastin DQ.

GIRLS: CLASS 1A, DISTRICT 9 TOURNAMENT
at Saddlebrook Resort

Team scores
1. Citrus (CIT) 351, 2. Zephyrhills (ZEP) 444, 3. Crystal River (CR) 450, 5. Hernando (HER) 474, 8. Nature Coast (NCT) 561.

Hernando County scores
5. Hernando (474): Lauren Shuford 79, Lauren Hallal 123, Tanvi Patel 124, Hannah Spencer 148.
8. Nature Coast (561): Nancy McCabe 99, Alex Mahon 146, Kaitlyn Bugden 158, Chelsea Dunlop 158, Candy Mott 213.

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

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