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Greens A Challenge At State

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By DAREK SHARP, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 7, 2007

PLANT CITY - Next year, Amy West will be prepared for anything that might happen at the state golf tournament.

One thing the Durant High junior might have to change has nothing to do with her game, though. She might need to pack a second umbrella.

At last week's girls Class 2A tournament at Eaglebrooke Golf Course near Mulberry, West shot some of her highest scores. Thanks to the inclement conditions, West carded rounds of 77 and 78 to finish tied for 16th in the state.

Although West is accustomed to shooting around or under par, it was hard to be dejected after the 11-over showing over two days.

"Those greens were tough," she said. "The first day they were fine, but on the second day real tough."

Durant golf coach Dick Sheffield said the greens at Eaglebrooke, undulating and fast, were the toughest in the Tampa Bay area and "maybe in the whole state."

As if the greens weren't enough of a challenge, there was the weather on Oct. 30. It was rainy and windy, and by the 17th hole West experienced a series of events.

She lost her umbrella in the water.

"It was in my golf bag, and the wind just knocked the bag over and out it fell," West said. "Here I am running across the fairway trying to save it, but it goes in the water. At first, I was like 'Cool, it'll just come out on the other side' but nope. It sank."

As if on cue, it started pouring.

West ended the first day tied for 11th place with her five-over round.

On Oct. 31, West had some chances to mount a charge. In her first five holes, West had a look at birdie putts inside of 15 feet but could not convert any of them. She would three-putt five holes on the day, making the way for five of her six bogeys.

"I just couldn't figure out the undulations. Very confusing," she said.

No golfer could say they had everything figured out. Of the best players in the state, only individual medalist Casey Kennedy of Venice High managed to go under par for the two rounds combined. She had a 3-under-par 69 on the second day for a 2-under total.

From team champion Lake Mary, no golfer had a sub-par round; however, only one of the eight scores posted for the school was higher than 80. Lake Howell's Carlie Yadloczky and Martin County's Lauren Himebaugh had 71s on the second day and that was it for the under-par rounds.

For the first time, West played without her Durant teammates because she qualified individually for the state event. Last year, Durant made it as a team after winning the regional tournament.

"It was not the same," she said, adding that she did gain a friend while playing with Wharton golfer Kate Demick.

Wharton had the best finish for a Tampa Bay area school, ninth place. West's score would have been the second-best on Wharton and was better than anyone on the other two area schools, Plant and Lakewood Ranch.

The two-day struggle is not discouraging West from playing golf.

"Oh no," she said. "I'm learning a lot with each trip to state. I'll be very well-prepared for next year."

Reporter Darek Sharp can be reached at dsharp@tampa trib.com.

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