Wednesday, October 12, 2016
TAMPA – Into the wind from almost 150 yards – and tied for the lead – Cambridge Christian senior Ashley Zagers took aim at the par-4, 18th hole pin Tuesday afternoon at Westchase Golf Club.
No worries.
Zagers stuck it 10 feet from the cup. Less than 10 minutes later, Zagers pumped her fist as her birdie putt dropped in.
Victorious.
Zagers finished with even-par 72, one shot ahead of sophomore teammate Latana Stone and Tampa Prep sophomore Julie Zhang in the Class A, District 13 tournament.
“I felt more comfortable as the day went on,” said Zagers, who followed a front-nine 38 with a back-nine 34. “I think the nerves of it being the district tournament and having all your teammates depending on you made me a little tighter in the beginning.
“But when the back nine started I said, ‘Okay, I’m here to play some golf now,’ and then everything felt better.”
Zagers’ effort – coupled with teammates Stone, Theresa Stanger (88) and Gabi Patune (101) – also led the Lancers to the girls team title with 334 points, 24 ahead of team runner-up Tampa Prep.
On the boys’ side, the youngest player in the field, Berkeley Prep seventh grader Connor Pope, not only won the individual title by one shot at 4-over 76, but he helped lead the Bucs to a one-shot team victory over Cambridge Christian, 323-324.
“I didn’t really feel much pressure until the 18th hole when I knew I had a pretty good score going,” said Pope, who averages 205 yards a drive and on Tuesday hit 13 of 14 fairways. “I had a few nerves on that last hole but it all worked out.”
Pope’s 76 finished one shot ahead of Academy at the Lakes’ A.J. Jaiswal and two ahead of Bishop McLaughlin’s Bobby Selby. Tampa Prep’s boys placed third in the boys’ team race with 335 points.
