Back in time: Carson Brewer returns to Ponte Vedra High golf team in time for state playoffs
The Ponte Vedra High boys golf team will be at full strength for the postseason.
Sharks coach Mickey Leapley initially thought he would be without last year's No. 1 and defending Times-Union player of the year Carson Brewer because of an ankle injury that would prevent him from playing the required minimum of nine-hole matches to be eligible for the district, region and state tournaments.
However, the Florida High School Activities Association waived the requirement because of the number of high school golf teams affected by Hurricane Ian and Brewer's ankle is feeling just fine, based on his most recent result.
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The Sharks' lineup for the postseason as of this week will be Brewer, Camden Smith, Rohan Singh and Brock Blais, with Leapley deciding on his fifth player close to the District 3-2A tournament on Monday at the Fernandina Beach Golf Course.
Brewer, Singh and Blais were on the team that won a record seventh state championship and fifth in a row last year in Class 3A. The fifth player will be either Danny Erickson, who was on last year's state championship team, or Stefan Ink.
The Sharks drop back down to 2A this year but that only means they are likely to be battling Plantation American Heritage again in the state tournament at the Mission Inn Resort in Howey-in-the-Hills. Between 2015 and 2020, Ponte Vedra was first five of six times in the Class 2A state tournament and American Heritage was second. In the other year, American Heritage was first and the Sharks second.
The average margin of victory in those tournaments was 10 strokes.
"I think we have one of the strongest lineups in the history of Florida high school golf," Leapley said, noting that Brewer has committed to Florida State, Smith to Georgia, and Ink and Erickson to UNF. Singh is considering Jacksonville and Mercer.
"But we still have to go out there and perform or it won't matter," he added. "We didn't really have any issue about playing in 2A or 3A. It's never easy to win a state championship and we're taking nothing for granted."
Brewer has tuned up for the playoffs by firing a 68-68 at the Providence Golf Course in Davenport to win the Qudoba Championship, with the Sharks finishing second to Class 3A Miami Columbus.
Last week, Singh had a 67 and Ink a 69 as the Sharks won the Junior Honda Classic at PGA National by 14 shots. The tournament was shortened to 18 holes because of the weather.
Leapley said the Sharks are well-motivated, especially after losing the team title at Davenport.
"They all know now is the time to start playing up to our potential," he said. "They seem very fired up and excited, and can't wait to start."
Ospreys, Gabrelcik shatter records
The University of North Florida men's golf team shot its third-lowest 54-hole score last week in winning the Quail Valley Collegiate Invitational in Vero Beach.
The Ospreys needed nearly every stroke to hold off Michigan State and Liberty by three shots.
Junior Nick Gabrelcik tied for second at 16-under-par 200, junior Robbie Higgins was fourth at 14-under and senior Davis Lee of Ponte Vedra fourth at 9-under. Gabrelcik had a 65 in the first round, Higgins closed with a 66 and Lee had a 66 in the second round.
Gabrelcik, who earned his eighth ASUN player of the week award, set a program record for 54-hole score. He shot 201 in 2020 in the Gator Invitational.
He also took over the program lead with the most top-five finishes with 14, matched his best 18-hole score.
Gabrelcik and Higgins now have the program's two best scores in relation to par in a 54-hole tournament. Gabrelcik has tied the ASUN record for the most player of the week awards with former UNF star Philip Knowles and Dawson Armstrong of Lipscomb.
Close call for Russell
Miles Russell of Jacksonville closed strong with a 69 in the final round of the Florida Junior Tour Championship boys 13-15 division at Lakewood National in Winter Haven, but it wasn’t enough as he finished second by two shots to Clark Mason of St. Petersburg at 4-over 220.
Phillip Dunham of Ponte Vedra (223) tied for fifth and Emmett Kuhlenkamp of Fleming Island (225) tied for eighth.
In the boys 16-18 division, Brody Stevenson of St. Augustine (221) was solo fifth, Dylan Ma of Jacksonville (222) tied for sixth and Cameron Goldknopf of Ponte Vedra Beach and Henry Robards of Jacksonville (223) tied for eighth.
Nancy Cox of Ponte Vedra (236) tied for ninth in the girls 16-18 division.
'Noles coming to Deercreek
The Jacksonville Seminoles Boosters and the Deercreek Country Club will host its fourth annual FSU Golf Team Tournament on Nov. 11, with the proceeds going to the men's and women's golf programs.
The FSU players compete with booster club members. The tournament is close to being sold out but some spots are available by calling (904) 716-5637 or emailing mzahn@fsu.edu.
Contact Garry Smits at gsmits@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @GSmitter
FHSAA golf
District tournaments
Boys
Monday
District 2-2A boys, Lake City Country Club
District 3-2A boys, Fernandina Beach Golf Course
District 4-2A boys, Palatka Golf Club
District 3-1A boys, Quail Heights Country Club
District 4-1A boys, Hidden Hills Golf Club
Wednesday
District 3-3A boys, Fleming Island.
Girls
Monday
District 3-3A girls, St. Johns Golf and Country Club
District 4-2A girls, at Palatka Golf Club
District 4-1A girls, Hidden Hills
Tuesday
District 2-2A girls, at Palatka Golf Club
District 3-1A girls, at Quail Heights
Region tournaments
Boys
Oct. 31
Region 1-3A boys, Golf Club at Cypress Head, Spruce Creek
Region 1-2A boys, Perdido Bay Golf Club
Region 1-1A boys, Marsh Landing
Girls
Oct. 31
Region 1-1A girls, Windsor Parke
Nov. 1
Region 1-3A girls, Hawkstone Country Club
Region 1-2A girls, Quail Heights Country Club
State tournaments, at Mission Inn Resort, Howey-in-the-Hills
Nov. 8-9
Class 3A
Nov. 11-12
Class 1A
Nov. 15-16
Class 2A
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Carson Brewer returns to Ponte Vedra golf team in time for playoffs
