Falcons’ Kelly sits in fourth place at state

The golf course was difficult and the wind was brisk, but that didn’t stop Sean Kelly.

After the first day of play in the Class 1A state boys golf tournament, the Saint Stephen’s junior sits in fourth place at Juliette Falls golf course in Dunnellon.

Kelly shot a 1-under 71 on Tuesday to lead the Falcons, who are in eighth place as a team with 309 points, seven shots behind fourth-place St. Petersburg Northside Christian.

Saint Stephen’s Connor Lynch finished with a 3-over 75, Osama Khan fired a 9-over 81, Eric Muslawski shot a 10-over 82, and Ethan Hill fired a 36-over 108.

“They played good again, but we’ve played good all year,” Falcons coach Matt Primrose said. “We had a couple players shoot a little worse than usual, but the course is playing tough. We are right in there. We are in eighth place, and we beat Fort Myers Bishop Verot, which was the one that beat us in regionals, so that felt pretty good for the first day.”

At the 2A state tournament, Lakewood Ranch’s Rocky Khara shot a 3-over 75 and is tied for 30th place at The Country Club at Silver Spring Shores in Ocala.

Today is the final round of golf for both classifications.

Khara, a senior, finished 10th in the state last season, said he shot a 40 on the back nine.

“I just missed a lot of greens, and my iron game was off,” Khara said. “I went to the (driving) range afterward, and I fixed some things up, so I have to hit more greens. My putting is good, driving is good. Everything is pretty solid. I basically need to hit more greens.”

Bradenton Christian freshman Jordan Miller had a rough day on the course, shooting an 8-over 72 and is tied for 58th after one round.

“(Miller) started out okay,” Panthers coach Joel Van Ryn said. “He birdied his second hole and was 1-under through three, but he didn’t putt very well. Some days you just don’t make anything, and that was the situation.”

Van Ryn said Miller isn’t under pressure to perform well today, so he can go out, play his game and see if he can make a strong push.

“He’s disappointed it didn’t happen for him (Tuesday),” Van Ryn said. “He put himself in good positions. I don’t know if he’ll do anything dramatically different (today). Maybe, he’ll take a chance or two. Hopefully some more putts will fall in for him, and he’ll have a good day.”