By Kyle LoJacono
Four days after winning her third straight individual district championship, Saddlebrook Prep senior Lauren Riehle qualified for the 1A state girls golf tournament by carding a 5-over 77 at regionals on Oct. 24.
Riehle’s 77 was the low round of the day, giving her the individual regional title and sending her to the 1A state meet for the third consecutive year.
“It wasn’t my best day,” Riehle said. “I had a really bad front nine, but it’s kind of hard to be mad with the lowest round at regionals.”
Fellow Spartan Nina Hwang, a senior, nearly joined Riehle in qualifying for states by shooting an 82, but Bushnell South Sumter’s Micah Adams posted an 80 late in the day to post the second-lowest score at the event.
Riehle is the only area player, boy or girl, from Pasco to qualify for states. In addition, no local county team advanced past regionals.
Only the top-two teams and top-two golfers not on an advancing team move on to states.
Academy at the Lakes senior Ellen Crowley, who shot a 92, tied for eighth place. Bishop McLaughlin senior Soencer Valdestino carded a 93 to take 10th.
As for the boys, Saddlebrook Prep missed out on a trip to states by one stroke for the second time in three years. The Spartans finished with a 325, just behind Crystal River.
Senior Tom Ng led the way for Saddlebrook Prep by shooting a 7-over 79, while teammate Michael Richards carded an 80.
The 1A girls state meet is at Harbor Bills Country Club in Lady Lake on Nov. 1-2.
