Smith, Lake Mary win 3A golf titles
Lake Nona sophomore Erika Smith won the Class 3A individual golf championship and Lake Mary took the team title Wednesday at Mission Inn. It was the second straight title for the Rams.
HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS — While Lake Mary High’s girls’ golf team continued its winning tradition Wednesday, Lake Nona’s Erika Smith wrote some history of her own in the Class 3A state tournament.
Tied for second after shooting a a first round 72 on the par-72, 5,505-yard Las Colinas Course at Mission Inn Resort & Club, Smith carded a 71 on the final day to finish with a 143 and win the individual championship by two strokes over Gainesville Buchholz’s Mindy Herrick.
Only a sophomore, Smith became the third Lake Nona girl to win an FHSAA individual championship. The two alums with titles are former Lions tennis player Priyanka Shah (2013) and track/volleyball standout Mikayla Shields, who won a triple jump crown as a senior last spring.
“It’s amazing,” said an elated Smith after accepting her gold medal. “I worked really hard for it. I feel satisfied.” Smith used a strong back 9 to pull away from Herrick, making birdies on holes No. 13, 15 and 17 to finish with five on the day. She also birdied Nos. 4 and 8.
“I like being behind,” Smith said. “It’s easier for me to move forward.”
Smith said she was most proud of her play on Hole No. 17, carding a birdie after bogeying the hole on Day 1.
“I was still a little bit nervous,” Smith said. “I felt confident, though. I took my time. I knew where I was.”
The Lake Mary girls won their second consecutive title and fifth overall. The Rams carded a four-player score of 614 to surpass runner-up West Orange by 11 shots. Lake Nona placed fourth (641).
Lake Mary was led by Jenny Kim (72-79—151), who was tied for second after Day 1, but slipped on the final day. Haley Danforth (77-76—153), Alyssa Mercado (80-75—155) and Macy Somoskey (77-78—155) rounded out the Rams’ scoring.
“We’re just excited,” Lake Mary coach Dennis Burchill said. “Every year is a different group of girls with different personalities. They knew what we were trying to do.”
“I think this year is more special because it’s our second straight championship,” Kim said.
Meanwhile, the West Orange boys fell short in their quest for a team title after sitting in second after Day 1. The Warriors closed with a 331 for a 644 total and 10th-place finish.
Lake Mary’s boys used a strong second day (303) to finish third at 629. Tampa Plant’s 606 won the prize.
Individually, West Orange’s Grant Drogosch tied for fourth (71-76—147) after standing in second after the first day.
“I had to battle back after two doubles on par 5s,” Drogosch said. “I thought I had a shot at it (the title). I played pretty well. I wasn’t disappointed.”