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Golf: American Heritage Wins Class 2A Boys Golf Title

Sharon BlockSFHSSports: Twitter | Facebook

American Heritage boys golf coach Brandt Moser knew it was going to be a good day at the FHSAA State 2A Boys Golf Tournament when he saw a bald eagle.

Clearly recognizable by its white head, brown body and hooked yellow beak, the national bird of the United States since 1782 was surely an omen since he saw an eagle before the Patriots won state team titles in 2012 and 2014.

Like clockwork, the Patriots won their third boys' team title at Mission Inn's challenging El Campeon golf course at Howey-in-the Hills.

Moser saw the majestic bird before Monday's practice round, on Tuesday before golfers teed off on opening day and again just before Wednesday's awards ceremony.

"For me to see a bald eagle I go nuts," said the 23-year veteran coach. "I love animals and an American bald eagle is a big deal. A couple of parents who know my love for them saw it, looked at me and knew it was a sign."

The Patriots, buoyed by talent and depth, finished with a 16-shot victory over runner-up Ponte Vedra with a two-round total 604. All five players had at least one round in the 70s and three of them did it both days.

The tournament's youngest team with two freshmen and one eighth-grader, was led by senior Jonathan Cachon, 72-75-147; freshman Jude Kim, 71-78-149; freshman Leo Herrera, 77-75-152; junior Alberto Martinez, 80-78-158; and eighth grader Jonathan Mourin, 78-84-162. Cachon was the Patriots' top individual finisher tying for third followed by Kim placing fifth and Herrera tied for seventh.

Moser has now won five state titles—three boys and two girls. The Patriots' ambitious regular season schedule on tough courses prepared them for the state tournament.

"We have a unique way of doing things," Moser said. "We have great kids and great families. Even though they are extremely young they have traveled and played golf around the U.S.

"Our parents see what I ask of the kids and what seems hard in the beginning, is very easy by the time of the state tournament. I go out of my way to make them feel uncomfortable on tough courses and tournaments until it feels comfortable and then they understand when we get to the state tournament."

The state tournament course is one of the state's most challenging for high school golfers, Moser said. Three weeks before the tournament the players and parents drove to Mission Inn on their own for a practice round.

"That's commitment," Moser said. "That course up there is brutal. It mentally breaks you. It humbles you. All you have to do is look at the scores of the other kids. The look on some of the other teams' faces, it looked like cattle going to slaughter.

"For a high school golfer, it was just mind-boggling but if you know what's coming that's half the battle. We prepared them by taking them to tournaments and courses up-state with elevation. We got invited and played the TOC where six holes are similar to state. It was a Who's Who in golf, we saw state champions and runners-up. We beat Lake Mary and Tampa Plant.

"Any team that does well, it takes a massive amount of group sacrifice from many people. It's tough to get people to buy into what the goal is in the beginning. I tell them just trust me, we are going to get there, just stay with the process."

Cachon, making his fourth state tournament appearance, and Martinez provided the senior leadership for the younger players.

"This is a great group of kids with personality," Moser said. "Every team wins a state tournament with the same mixture of older kids and a few up-and-coming kids. Our younger kids don't lack confidence on a golf course.

"I think they are too young to understand what they just did. When they start getting fitted for the state rings and hear about past state champions it will hit them. For some, the only goal was to get there. We not only got there but we won it."

Of course, Moser would like to try and break the cycle of winning every two years by winning next year.

"I think I am going to buy 1,000 mice and turn them loose right around the first hole so the eagle shows up on that giant old tree," Moser said. "It was great watching him fly over the awards ceremony probably saying, "I did my job buddy."

Also in the 2A competition:

Archbishop McCarthy tied for seventh with 337-345-682. The Mavericks' finishers were senior Anthony Wells, 81-82-163; freshman Justin Lilly, 77-87-164; sophomore Case Hinesly, 88-88-176; junior CJ Cooper, 91-88-179 and junior Eric Wagner, 91-92-183.

Julius Boros of Cardinal Gibbons was ninth among individuals with 76-77-153.

In other boys' state tournaments:

Class 3A: Columbus was the top Dade finisher, tying St. Thomas Aquinas, top Broward finisher, for fourth place at 631. The Explorers finished with 321-310 with junior Roberto Nieves, 76-74, 150; senior Jake Moscoso, 80-74, 154; junior Sharif Amastha, 83-82, 165; junior Joel Garcia-Lee, 85-80-165 and senior Robert De Paz, 82-84, 166. The Raiders shot 324-307 with freshman Brett Roberts, 79-73, 152; junior Alex Martell, 79-81, 160; sophomore Donald Francey, 81-79, 160; senior James Greco, 85-82, 167; and junior Joe Lewis, 96-74, 170. Nieves was top individual finisher placing eighth.

Class 1A: Sagemont was 13th at 344-345-689 followed by Pine Crest, 333-360, 693. Pine Crest was ninth after opening day. It was Sagemont's first trip to the state tournament.

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