The last time the Ponte Vedra High boys golf team failed to win a state championship was when Barack Obama was still President of the United States, Jim McElwaine was still the Florida Gators football coach and Lamar Jackson was on his way to winning the Heisman Trophy.
The Sharks’ streak of consecutive state titles in two classes ended on Nov. 20 at the Mission Inn Resort in Howey-in-the-Hills when they finished third in the Class 3A state championship at 33-over par, 18 shots behind winner Viera and 11 behind runner-up Lakewood Ranch.
Ponte Vedra has won every state championship in which it participated since 2017. The Sharks also failed to finish first or second for the first time since 2011, a streak of 12 years.
Ponte Vedra has won a record 10 state championships, nine in Class 2A and the the 2021 title in Class 3A.
The Sharks gave it a run after trailing by 23 shots and in a tie for sixth after the first round. Every Ponte Vedra player improved his score in the second round and the Sharks posted the best team score of the second round at 5-over.
Sophomore Jake Mason knocked 10 shots off his first-round 80 with a 70, with four birdies on the back nine of the El Campeon Course to finish in a tie for 17th with teammate Jack Chung (73) at 6-over 150.
“Mixed emotions,” said Sharks coach Mickey Leapley. “The kids are bummed that they didn’t win and I’m proud of them for going out and winning the day. That’s what we talked about after the first round. Just go out, post the best score of the day and see what happens. We dug ourselves into too big a hole and we were behind some very good teams.”
Leapley said the only thing they can do is get ready to start another streak in 2025. The Sharks have only one senior starter, Cameron Reed.
“They’re already talking about next year,” Leapley said. “We have four guys back and a lot of good players behind them.”
Bryson Hughes is low area player
Bryson Hughes, a Creekside senior, shot 75 and tied for fifth at even-par 144, the low First Coast player in the field. He was playing as an individual. Ambrose Kinnare of Tocoi Creek (154) tied for 27th with Ponte Vedra’s Cameron Reed.
Nease finished 11th in the team standings.
Beachside girls finish fifth
The Beachside girls team, which won the school’s first state championship ever last year in Class 2A, finished fifth at the Las Colinas Course at 51-over. Lake Nona won the team title at 32 overall, 10 shots clear of Lake Mary.
Sofia Rivera was the low Beachside player in a tie for 15th at 6-over 148. Teammate Fiona Clancy (155) tied for 38th.
Stella Moritz of Ponte Vedra tied for 26th at 9-over 151. Ponte Vedra was 11th in the team standings and Nease 15th.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Ponte Vedra High boys golf team streak of state titles ends at seven
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