The Ponte Vedra golf program will have both the boys and girls teams represented at the state tournament, while Nease’s Jackson Klauk has earned the No. 2 seed in the Class 3A individual competition.
The tournament will be Nov. 16-17 at Mission Inn Resort & Club in Howey-in-the-Hills.
For the Ponte Vedra girls, who enter as the last seeded team in the 16-school team format, their appearance in the tournament is a major step in not only the group’s development, but also in their performance as individuals.
“The postseason is always as exciting as it gets,” Ponte Vedra girls coach Adrienne Siewert said.
The team qualified for state after beating Bartram Trail in a playoff and finishing third in the regional tournament.
Siewert seems the potential her team has, especially with so many young players who are just appearing to find out who they are and what they do well as golfers.
The Sharks made a 10-stroke improvement at regionals from the 340 total score they compiled in the district tournament.
“Their scores have just continued to get better and better,” Siewert said. “They want it so bad, that they will fix something before I even get to it. They are all very proactive.”
If that growth continues the Sharks could make some noise at state.
Siewert has 11 girls in this year’s program, but had to narrow it down to six, five starters and one alternate.
The group going to state consists of sophomores Tory Barned, Nancy Cox and Brigette Wells and freshman Nyla Mayers, while the veteran presence is provided by juniors Megan Grant and Kathy Miller.
Wells will serve as the Sharks’ alternate heading into the competition.
“Nancy (Cox) is the only one that went last year as a freshman,” Siewert said. “That experience last year will be helpful.”
According to Siewert, Miller has really taken the initiative to be a leader on the team in her third year.
“She came to me over the summer and said that she wanted to be more involved,” Siewert said. “She has done just that. Kathy is always ready to go.”
The Ponte Vedra boys will look to make a charge at the 3A state title as the No. 1 seed in the team tournament.
