Meiyi Yan recorded four birdies and an eagle on the back nine to lead a charge that put defending champion The First Academy well out in front in the Class 1A girls golf state championships on Tuesday.
Windermere Prep, which won the 2016 boys title but fell short of qualifying for state a year ago, also surged down the stretch and holds the keys to another state crown after shooting a 302 in breezy weather on Mission Inn’s El Campeon course in Howey-in-the-Hills. The Lakers lead by three shots over Jacksonville Providence and Palm Beach Gardens Benjamin and hope to lock up the title in Wednesday’s final 18 holes of play.
If TFA and Windermere Prep hold on to their leads it would mark the sixth consecutive year that Sentinel coverage area teams swept both 1A team titles.
Lake Mary Prep’s JD Driscoll and John DuBois of TFA stand second and third in the boys individual competition with scores of 69 and 70, respectively.
Yan is tied for the individual girls lead after firing a 5-under-par 67 on the Las Colinas course to lead her team to a 295 team total that puts the Royals 10 strokes ahead of second place Providence.
“Meiyi has been really rock-solid for us,” Chris Bateman. “She was incredible on the back nine today.”
Yan, a senior who is the object of high-level college recruiting attention, warmed up for the FHSAA finals by shooting a 67 Sunday to win the two-day Golfweek International Invitational on the state finals course.
Teresa Zuang also rallied down the stretch and finished with a 75, as did TFA teammate Ariel Yu. Taylor Zeng added a 78 and First Academy was the only girls team that counted nothing but scores in the 70s.
“The girls finished strong and that was huge,” Bateman said. “Otherwise it could have been a four-shot, five-shot lead at the most. A 295 is a good score for any high school team.”
Lake Mary Prep got nice scores from Ellen Dong (71) and Mary Ma (72) but also counted some big numbers and stands fifth at 316.
Eric Berggren, who was a sophomore member of Windermere Prep’s 2016 state title team, shot even par 72 to lead the Lakers. Region winner Artem Yalovenko carded a 74 and Kenny Nguyen added a 77.
“The conditions became more difficult with the wind picking (later in the round) but they finished really strong,” said Lakers coach Kyle McClone. “The tougher the conditions the better they play.
“We have three seniors on the team. It will be pretty special if they can finish their careers on a high note.”
TFA’s boys are in the hunt, just five shots back, after carding a 307. John Dubois shot 70 and Sampson Zheng turned in a 74 to lead the Royals.
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