High school golf: Kathleen's Darby Hancock finishes third in regionals; McKeel advances to state
ST. CLOUD — There was a familiarity with the Royal St. Cloud Golf Links for the Class 3A, Region 2 girls tournament on Tuesday.
Kathleen sophomore golfer Darby Hancock played on the course several times with friends from around the neighborhood. Combine that with the fact that Hancock already garnered big tournament action through her high school tenure, and all that experience propelled the Lakeland native into third place at the regional tournament thanks to her 72.
Hancock will now compete in state competition for her third time.
“…I kind of wrapped it all together, and I realized where I was on the leaderboard, and I (got) my head into it,” Hancock said.
Hancock on the day produced two birdies, two bogeys and 16 pars.
“I wouldn’t say it was a clean par, but I was able to not have that many bogeys and had some birdies even it out,” Hancock said.
Where her momentum started, however, was on par-5 when she hit her second shot into the water. She then hit a 4-Iron into the greens before using a 6-putter, which broke the ball down the hill. She eventually made the putt.
"But that was really critical because if I didn't make that putt, I don't know if I could have as good as a round today," Hancock said. "Starting off with a bogey on a very easy hole ... and the field is probably going to shoot low like it did today, it was something you had to keep in mind."
And that's what she did on chip shots. On those shots, she would miss the green to the point where it was challenging on the next shots. But her goal was to get the next attempt that much closer to the hole to potentially make a par or birdie. Many times she was able to get the shot within 4 feet before execution.
Competing against Hancock was George Jenkin’s Laurel Haake, who finished in 17th with a 79. Her teammate, sophomore Katie McDowell, finished 57th with a 107.
In the team competition, Lakeland culminated the day in 10th with a 386, and right behind the Dreadnaughts was Bartow with a 422 and 11th place.
McKeel places second in team competition
McKeel was a runner-up in the Class 2A, Region 2 tourney, advancing to state on Tuesday at Dubsdread Golf Course in Orlando.
Ava Bustos, who placed eighth overall, led the way with an 80, while Caroline DeKalb put up an 83.
This is the second straight year McKeel achieved runner-up in regionals; in 2020, the Wildcats won it.
“The girls played well on a very tough and narrow course,” McKeel coach Jeremy Bohnenstiehl said. “They really limited mistakes and had a good game plan going into today. I am looking forward to seeing them play at states.”
Davenport senior Starr Guilty finished in 12th place thanks to her 81, while freshman Caroline DeKalb (83, 15th), seventh-grader Georgia Grace Spence (85, 16th), junior Susie Davis (89, 18th), and sophomore Carly McKnight (90, 21st) all finished in the top 25.
In other team action, Lake Wales etched seventh place with a 469, while Davenport was eighth with a 474.
Class 3A, Region 2 girls
Team and Tuesday's results
Lakeland (386, 10th): Madison Templeton 87, Tia Hargrove 90, Nadia Butler 104, Nailah Butler 105, Adayah Peck 141
Bartow (422, 11th): Faith Sebright 84, Adelyn McLean 108, Nandika Sreeram 109, Cadence Van Hook 121, Abbey Johnson 134
Class 2A Region 2 girls
McKeel (337, second): Ava Bustos 80, Caroline DeKalb 83, Georgia Grace Spence 85, Susie Davis 89, Carly McKnight 90
Lake Wales (469, seventh): Lauren Hare 110, Haley Woods 117, Ally Donley 121, Ella Harrington 121, Alexandria Mcintosh 123
Davenport (474, eighth): Starr Guity 81, Juliette Cornier 115, Juliette Cornier 115, Gabby Lovanna 122, Lily Norris 156, Alsmarie Lopez 158
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Hancock places third in regional action; McKeel moves on to state
