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Golf Roundup: Pine Crest Boys Defend District Title

Sharon BlockSFHSSports: Twitter | Facebook

Before the golf season started, Pine Crest's boys coach Karl Nitowski asked his players what their goals were for the team.

Their answer was, 'Win districts and get to state.'

"Those are results, not goals," Nitowski told his players. "Goals are come here every day, work hard, get better and work on your short game. Yesterday was kind of special because all of that came together."

The Panthers defended their district title on Monday with an 11-stroke cushion in the District 22-1A tournament at Osprey Point Golf Course in Boca Raton. Pine Crest finished with 313 followed by host North Broward Prep (324), Calvary Christian (346), Westminster Academy (357) and Highlands Christian (373).

The top three teams advance to Monday's Region 8-1A tournament at Fort Lauderdale Country Club's south course.

The Panthers' one-two punch of sophomore Dominic Carrera (71) and senior Miles Castoro (72) finished first and second. Other Pine Crest finishers were: senior Justin Danzansky (85), freshman Rafael Salazar-Paranhos (85) and freshman Dylan Glatt (95).

"We tried to get the guys to focus on one shot at a time, stay in the moment and play with confidence," Nitowski said. "We hit some big putts. Miles finished up with a nice birdie putt. We didn't stress about what the score was. Not everyone had their best day but they understood they were out there for their teammates."

It was the Panthers' sixth district crown in the program's history. The team is hoping to make its' third state tournament appearance with a good performance at regions where the Panthers have finished runner-up the past two years to qualify.

The Panthers' best finish at state was fifth two years ago. They last won a state crown in 1995.

The key to preparing for the high school season was playing the summer circuit's junior tournaments and getting in as many practice rounds as possible.

"They have all been student-athletes since middle school," said Nitowski, the program's director of golf for the past five years who took over coaching this year. "We take pride in our academics and our priorities. Family is No. 1, school is No. 2 and No. 3 is golf in that order.

"I knew we had some good young players with the talent coming through with Miles and Dominic leading us," Nitowski said. "They have been on varsity since sixth grade and are seasoned golfers with a lot of tournament experience.

"I like to say our anchors are Miles and Dominic with their experience and Justin has been to the state finals. If they can put it together and play their rounds, anything is possible."

The top three teams and 10 individuals advance to the region tournaments.

Other district tournaments results from Monday and Tuesday:

BOYS

District 24-3A: Palmetto won the team title with 318 strokes. Jordan Laklak of Palmetto shot a 71 to earn medalist honors. South Dade's Cole Castro was one stroke back (72).

District 23-3A: Columbus defended its title with 305, a 50-stroke lead over Miami Beach Senior High. Robert de Paz and Roberto Nieves shot 76s and Jake Moscoso shot 77 for the Explorers.

District 22-3A: West Broward won the team title with 327. West Broward's Alec Quiroga and Andres Torres and Nova's Matty Patella all shot 79s.

District 20-3A: Douglas finished third with 324 behind Boca Raton (308) and Spanish River (313).

District 24-2A: Archbishop McCarthy needed a three-hole playoff to win its eighth title in nine years to top Belen Jesuit. Senior Anthony Wells clinched the win with a 30-foot birdie. Belen Jesuit's Beto Perez won the individual title with a 78.

District 23-2A: State runner-up American Heritage won the team title with 296 ahead of Cardinal Gibbons (310), Pompano Beach (338), Dreyfoos (454) and Boynton Beach (462). The Patriots swept the top three spots including medalist Jonathan Cachon (71).

District 24-1A: Gulliver Prep won the team title with 307, 20 strokes ahead of Ransom-Everglades. Jake Beber-Frankel of Ransom-Everglades won the individual title with 69, after going to scorecards with Westminster Christian's J.P. Mehu, who also shot a 69.

District 23-1A: Sagemont (319) won the team title followed by other qualifiers University School (351) and Chaminade-Madonna (351). Miami Country Day was fourth (355). Sagemont's Val Salemi (77) and Kade Cannon (79) were the top two finishers.

GIRLS

District 24-3A: Palmetto, led by medalist Alexa Rivas (75) won the team title.

District 23-3A: Doral Academy won the team title with 330. Daniela Spillert of Our Lady of Lourdes won medalist honors with a 79.

District 20-3A: Douglas, led by individual medalist Amanda Okulanis (75), won the team title with 323.

District 24-2A: Defending state champion Archbishop McCarthy won its' sixth consecutive title with a season-low 298 strokes. Three-year starter Christen Simons won her first medalist title with a 71. Pembroke Pines Charter eighth-grader Jennifer Lilly was second (74) followed by four Maverick golfers: Gigi Garcia (75), Brooke Benedetto (76), Natalia Jimenez (76) and Julia Matzat (80).

District 23-2A: State runner-up American Heritage won the team title with 325 strokes and had four top spots. Jillian Bourdage was medalist with 72, a 10-stroke margin of victory.

District 24-1A: Ransom-Everglades won the team title with 363 strokes. Tanya Eathakotti of Carrollton won medalist honors with a 77, three strokes ahead of Phoebe Beber-Frankel of Ransom-Everglades.

District 22-1A: North Broward Prep won the team title (325). Pine Crest was runner-up (350). North Broward Prep swept the top four places including medalist Hannah Leiner (69).

REGION MEET SCHEDULE

BOYS
Oct. 17: Region 8-3A: Key Biscayne Crandon Golf Course (Columbus host)
Oct. 17: Region 8-2A: Lago Mar Country Club (American Heritage host)
Oct. 17: Region 7-1A: The Bear's Club (Benjamin host team)
Oct. 17: Region 8-1A: Fort Lauderdale Country Club (Sagemont host)
Oct. 18: Region 7-3A: Jacaranda Golf Course (St. Thomas Aquinas host)

GIRLS
Oct. 17: Region 7-3A: Eagle Trace Country Club (Douglas host)
Oct. 17: Region 8-2A: Lago Mar Country Club (American Heritage host)
Oct. 17: Region 8-1A: Fort Lauderdale Country Club (Sagemont)
Oct. 18: Region 8-3A: Weston Hills Country Club (Cypress Bay host)
Oct. 18: Region 7-1A: Osprey Point Golf Club (St. Andrew's host)

STATE MEET SCHEDULE
Oct. 25-26: State 3A tournament, Howey-in-the-Hills
Oct. 28-29: State 1A tournament, Howey-in-the-Hills
Nov. 1-2: State 2A tournament, Howey-in-the-Hills

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