Lakewood Ranch, Saint Stephen’s win boys and girls golf district titles

It was business as usual at a couple district golf tournaments on Monday.

Lakewood Ranch and Saint Stephen’s golf programs kept chugging along in the first postseason golf tournament of 2017.

The Mustang boys, who captured the Manatee County Championship earlier this month, posted a 312 total for a nine-shot victory in the Class 3A-District 14 title at Sarasota’s Misty Creek Country Club on Monday. Lakewood Ranch defeated runner-up Sarasota Riverview and Venice for the championship. Drew Angelo led Lakewood Ranch with a 74, while Matt Bruton (77), Mark Bruton (80) and Mike Wijas (81) rounded out the Mustangs’ scores.

The top three teams qualified for next week’s regional tournament. The top three individuals not on an advancing team also qualified.

Braden River’s Calvin Hedgepeth secured one of those three berths with an 81.

In the 3A-14 girls tournament at Manatee County’s Palm-Aire Country Club on Monday, the Lakewood Ranch girls team captured the championship with a 323 total. Ashleigh Angelo paced the Mustangs with a 74. Natalie Robson (77), Darby Laurvick (85) and Ashlyn Einwachter (87) also contributed to the 14-shot victory over runner-up Venice. Sarasota Riverview placed third with a 342 to edge Braden River (369), Manatee (380) and Palmetto (447) for the last regional team qualifying berth.

Ashley Ringo carded a 92 for the Mustangs, too, though just the top four scores out of five count toward the team total.

Manatee High’s Gabrielle Tomeo was the medalist with a 71 to earn a spot into next week’s regional tournament. The other two individual qualifying berths went to Palmetto’s Ashlyn Gardner (81) and Braden River’s Brittany Walters (84).

Saint Stephen’s won the boys and girls district titles at the 1A-16 tournament at Sarasota’s Tatum Ridge Golf Links on Monday.

The Falcons fired a 281 for the boys title. Alan Klenor paced a dominating performance with a 68, while Massimo Mbetse (70), Ryan Kinkead (71) and David Hu (72) also contributed. Song Bai carded a 72, too, for the Falcons.

The Saint Stephen’s girls team also won a district championship. Maria Huang led the Falcons with a 75. Catherine Huang (81), Kendall Miller(90) and Bella O’Donnell (119) also contributed.

Next week’s 1A-Region 6 tournament is held Monday at Manatee County’s Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club for the Saint Stephen’s boys and at Fort Myers’ San Carlos Country Club for the girls.

In 3A, the Region 5 tournament is held Wednesday at Manatee County’s Lakewood National Golf Club for the Lakewood Ranch boys and girls teams and the individuals that qualified from Monday’s district tourneys.

This story was originally published October 16, 2017 at 8:36 PM with the headline "Lakewood Ranch, Saint Stephen’s win boys and girls golf district titles."