Oxbridge's Filler wins girls individual title

UF-bound junior says putts were the key factor.

PALM BEACH GARDENS — Competing against top high school golfers from Flor- ida and across the nation, Oxbridge Academy’s Maisie

Filler shot a 4-under-par 68 to win the girls individual

title Saturday in the eighth annual Honda Classic High School Invitational at PGA National.

Filler, a junior who has committed to the Univer

sity of Florida, had a twoday total of 137. She finished two strokes ahead of run- ner-up Andie Smith of The Pine School.

She credited her strong weekend to her putting game.

“I really was focusing on just hitting fairways and hitting greens and trying to make more putts,” Filler said. “That was kind of the key the past few days, mak

ing putts.”

Filler said she was working on balancing an aggressive style of play with a relaxed state of mind. She came out with extra motivation after a subpar performance in last year’s invitational. “I was kind of determined to make a comeback this year,” she said. Orlando-First Academy won the girls team title in a two-hole playoff against Lake Mary after the two squads tied at 589. First Academy coach Chris Bateman said he was proud of the way his golfers responded after a tough start Saturday. “For the top four players to play the way they did today, it was great,” Bateman said. “This was the best we’ve played this year, teamwise.” In the boys division, Lake- wood Ranch’s Drew Angelo shot a 4-under 68 to win the individual title. With a twoday total of 141, he finished one stroke ahead of freshman Luke Clanton of Plantation-American Heritage. Clanton’s team finished second to Ponte Vedra High, which posted a score of 595 to American Heritage’s 597. Toby Harbeck, the invitational’s host director and coach of the Benjamin boys team, said the event drew a strong field to PGA National. Benjamin finished third at 605.

“It’s a great field ... and I

like to play strong competition,” Harbeck said. “Play

ing teams that are easy to beat doesn’t make you any better. Playing good teams makes you better.”