Sophomore state champ tops a young group
This year’s Orlando area girls golf Player of the Year honor came down to a race between three sophomores who starred for state championship teams.
In the end it came down results in a pair of events.
Mi Li of The First Academy won the Class 1A individual state title with 66 at Mission Inn, leading the Royals to the team title. Her birdies on 14 and 15 made the difference down the stretch.
Not one senior is on the 11-player All-Area team, which pretty much guarantees that Orange and Seminole County schools will continue to dominate FHSAA girls golf. All-Area athletes are chosen from FHSAA state series schools in Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Lake and southwest Volusia counties. Selections were made by the Orlando Sentinel with input from coaches.
Player of the Year Mi Li
The First Academy, So. Buzz:
She captured the Class 1A individual state title with 66 that also was key in TFA winning its fourth team title in the past six years. It’s the second year in a row where Li earned all-area honors after contributing to a team state title. She was on Windermere Prep’s 2021 Class 1A state title team before joining the TFA roster. Li shot 74 at region, 78 at district and was fifth at the Honda Classic with 71. She won the Citrus League meet with 71 and was third at the Central Florida Tournament of Champions (TOC) with 35 after it was shortened to nine holes.
All-Area Players Dai
to
Nancy
Lake Mary Prep, Jr.
Buzz: Tied for third in 1A state tourney (70) after shooting 71 at region and 71 at district. Her low 9-hole round in the regular season was 34.
Isabella Dovhey
Circle Christian, Fr.
Buzz: Helped the Centurions finish runner-up at 1A state with 73 after tying for first at both region (70) and district (69). Also shot 69 at the Honda Classic.
Krishny Elwin Circle Christian, Fr. Buzz:
Helped state runner-up Centurions with 75 after shooting 71 at region and 69 at district (tied for first). Posted 72 at the Honda Classic.
Lauryn Finley
Lake Mary, So.
Buzz: Carded 72 for second in 3A state meet to help the Rams win the championship. She shot 66 at region (tied for first), 69 at district, 75 at the Honda and 38 at the Central Florida TOC.
Sophia
Hong
The First Academy, So. Buzz:
Shot 76 at state for title
team after posting 74 at region, 77 at district. Shot 70 at Qdoba, 73 at Honda and 34 at the Central Florida TOC (tied for first).
Ryleigh Knaub Lake Mary, So. Buzz:
Shot 76 to help the Rams win another 3A title. Matched Finely with 66 at region, won district with 67, shot 75 at the Honda Classic, and 36 at the Central Florida TOC.
Youyang Li
The First Academy, So. Buzz:
Helped Royals win state with 70 after shooting 70 at region (tied for first) and 71 at district (first). Had 67 at Honda, 34 at the Central Florida TOC (tied for first). Angelina Pacheco
Circle Christian, 8 th
Buzz: She contributed to the young Centurions’ 1A state finish with 70 after shooting 71 at region and 69 at district (tied for first), 73 at the Honda Classic.
Maggie
First Academy-Leesburg, So. Buzz: Advanced to 1A state individually for the second straight year, shooting 71 after posting 70 at region (tied for first), 77 at district and 74 to win SSAC meet.
Potash Elan Zhang Dr. Phillips, Jr. Buzz:
She was second at 3A state with 72 after also finishing second at region (71) and district (73). She also was runner-up at the Metro Conference meet with 72.