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Winter Haven senior golfer Anthony Monteleone has experienced nearly every scenario when it comes to high school golf. But at Wednesday’s 2024 FHSAA Class 3A Boys Golf State Championship at the Mission Inn Resort, the decorated golfer went through something he had never done before.
It was a four-hole playoff against two big names: Lakewood Ranch High School’s Parker Severs and West Orange’s Shawn Coultoff. The grouping played the first two holes on Hole 18, but eventually, only Monteleone and Parker were left. The two played Hole 1 and both made par and then continued to hole 17, where Monteleone made a birdie and Parker executed a par.
The Ledger’s two-time Golfer of the Year ended up shooting a 70 on Day 2 after having shot a 71 on Day 1.
“I played really well the whole playoff and I feel like I really deserved it to win against two big DI commits,” Monteleone said. “It feels amazing to win… Knowing that that’s been my main goal the past four years. Last year I got second place and knew this year would be my year. I can’t explain how happy I was to win in a playoff like I did.”
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But of course, those around Monteleone had a lot to do with the state champion’s success.
Both his golf coaches Tony Brabiner and Charlie James both were a big help. Specifically for Brabiner, he really changed the way Monteleone played this tournament by having him play smart off the tee and hitting many 3 woods and 2 irons instead of drivers.
Still, to get to be a state champion, Monteleone needed those critical shots executed. His best stroke was the 100-yard shot he hit within a foot of the hole to win the playoff, followed by several iron shots he hit to make birdies, keeping him in the title hunt. The Winter Haven native started with three birdies through his first three holes on the first day.
“I am proud of the way Anthony Monteleone played in the 3A Boys Golf State Championship,” James said. “He was down, but he never gave up. He believed in himself and so did we. He showed real maturity in his play. His swing coach, Tony, came to the practice round and helped develop a game plan and Anthony stuck to it. He showed no negative emotions when things didn’t go the way he wanted and played on.
“During the four-hole playoff against two of the state’s top competitors, Anthony played like he truly wanted to be a champion. It paid off. Now he is the Class 3A individual champion. He had plenty of support from family and school friends…. People were asking all day, ‘What’s Anthony doing?’ I’m sure he’s getting lots of well-deserved congratulations. I’m thankful for having had him as a player. Appreciation from me to his parents, Ralph and Tammy, for that opportunity.”
Monteleone is now preparing for all his individual tournaments and his debut at Florida Southern, where he will play college golf.
Hancock finishes 15th in Class 3A girls
The Ledger’s two-time Golfer of the Year, Kathleen’s Darby Hancock, placed 15th with a 148 over a two-day span Tuesday at Mission Inn Resort.
“Wasn’t the finish I was expecting based on how well I played this season,” Hancock said.
Spence, McKeel girls place 3rd in Class 2A state action
Georgia Grace Spence finished third in state action, just like her team as McKeel’s girls team placed third in the 2024 Class 2A FHSAA Golf State Championship at Mission Inn Resort on Friday with a score of 630.
Spence ended her two-day spectacle with a 148.
“The finish of third is the goal that we set during the season, so I am extremely happy that we achieved that,” McKeel head golf coach Jeremy Bohnenstiehl said. “The determining factor for our great finish was the girls stepping up and scoring when they needed to. I couldn’t be more proud of how the girls played and I’m excited to see what in store for next season.”
Helping McKeel’s cause was junior golfer Caroline DeKalb, who shot a 160 and placed 27th in two days of action. Fellow junior golfer Ava Bustos shot a 161 and finished 29th; freshman golfer Diya Kavalackal shot a 162 and culminated 32nd; and senior golfer Carly McKnight had a 169 and ended state in 48th.
Castillo places in Class 1A action
Continuing her momentum in the 2024 golf season was Frostproof freshman Hannah Castillo, who finished with a 155 in two days of work, placing 49th in state play.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Winter Haven’s Anthony Monteleone wins FHSAA golf title, McKeel girls take 3rd
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