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What an Encore!

Staff photo by DAVE CASEY

Springstead High senior Kevin Hubbard paced the 49-player field Monday afternoon at Summerfield’s Eagle Ridge Golf Club with a 1-over-par, 37-36—73 total to claim medalist honors in the 2A-6 Tourney in Marion County.

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TONY CASTRO SPORTS EDITOR

Hernando Today

Published: October 14, 2008

SUMMERFIELD - Mother Nature transformed Marion County's Eagle Ridge Golf Course into a wind tunnel - like San Francisco's Candlestick Park - behind 30-mile per hour gusts Monday afternoon.

Despite the tricky winds, Springstead High's boys' golf team toted home a second rare feat inside a week, the team title in the 10-team Class 2A, District 6 Tournament.

No, it wasn't heavy favorite Lecanto who won. The Panthers finished runner-up, 318-331.

And last week's Hernando County Tourney runner-up, Brooksville-Central, finished third on Monday, seven strokes back at 338.

The top three teams and top three individuals not associated with those teams each advance to next Monday's Class 2A, Region II Meet at Middleburg's Eagles' Landing Golf Club at Oak Leaf Plantation.

HUBBARD LEADS THE PACK

If Springstead's stunning win wasn't enough, Eagle senior Kevin Hubbard also took home medalist honors in the 49-player field across the par-72 layout with an 18-hole 37-36-73 total. His winning round featured five birdies.

Shane Murphy followed Hubbard's lead with a 7-over-par, 37-42-79 total. Rounding out the scoring freshman Anthony Fiocca carded a 44-38-82, followed by Ryan Kiley (40-44-84) and Mike DeCroix (51-45-96).

So how did Hubbard overcome the elements?

"Today was super windy," recalled the 17-year-old Hubbard. "I've definitely never had that kind of round under those conditions in a long time."

What was the key?

"I was calm and just kinda stayed relaxed," mentioned Hubbard. "No matter what happened, I just kinda kept it together. Frustration in the wind is the worst kind."

What about two team titles inside a week?

"One isn't better than the other," commented Hubbard. "They're both amazing feats. Especially, when you consider we had problems playing consistent golf in the past. This (district championship) is a great thing."

Fourth-year SHS Head Coach Sonny Long savored the win. He pointed out the Eagles trimmed 17 shots from its 335 total a week ago at a tough Southern Hills Plantation Course in Brooksville.

"I've got some great kids on this team," said Long. "There's an inherit amount of pressure already playing in the field, let alone against 30-mph winds.

"With the conditions like today, you gotta grind it out," added Long. "We had five grinders."

How sweet is the win?

"I don't want to dwell on it too long," he added. "We've gotta play even better to reach states next week. We can't be satisfied. Still, this district (win) is a big step for us. I'm so proud our guys making that step."

BEARS ADVANCE TOO

Central's 338 total edged Wesley Chapel (340), Land O'Lakes (341) and Ocala-Forest (342) to also advance to regionals.

The Bears were led by juniors Ryan Johnston (40-42-82) and Eric Coogan (42-40-82), followed by Palmer Berberette (41-43-84), William Jackson (45-45-90) and Jeff Tumelty (48-43-91).

"This is the best round I've shot all year," explained the 16-year-old Coogan. "Today, I just tried to stay consistent. It's funny the wind didn't really affect me, I play a lot of high fades anyway."

"I played inconsistent," remarked the 16-year-old Johnston. "I played all right on the back, but on the front I didn't hit one green. I was in the fringe every time."

"It's was a tough course," summed up CHS Head Coach Gary Morton. "There was a lot of wind. I'm happy to go. "There was a lot of wind. I'm happy to go. After losing five starters from last year's team, we're short on experience with this group. The guys have the potential to play better. But we're definitely gonna have to play even better in regionals."

Final 2A-6 Team Scores (Place, School, Points) – 1. Spring Hill-Springstead (SPG) 318, 2. Lecanto (LEC) 331, 3. Brooksville-Central (CEN) 338, 4. Wesley Chapel (WC) 340, 5. Land O'Lakes (LOL) 341, 6. Ocala-Forest (OF) 342, 7. Ocala-Vanguard (OV) 355, 8. Belleview (BELL) 364, 9. Ocala-Lake Weir (LW) 372, 10. Leesburg (LEES) 44.

SPRINGSTEAD (318) – Kevin Hubbard 37-36—73, Shane Murphy 3-42—79, Anthony Fiocca 44-38—82, Ryan Kiely 40-44—84, Mike DeCroix 51-45—96,

CENTRAL (338) – Ryan Johnston 40-42—82, Eric Coogan 42-40—82, Palmer Berberette 41-43—84, William Jackson 45-45—90, Jeff Tumelty 48-43—91.

Sports Editor Tony Castro can be reached at (352) 544-5278 or online at acastro@hernandotoday.com.

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