Circle Christian Girls Lead, TFA Boys Tight in State Golf Finals

UPDATE: In an electrifying start to the FHSAA Class 1A golf state finals at Mission Inn Golf Resort in Howey-in-the-Hills, both the Circle Christian girls and The First Academy (TFA) boys surged ahead, setting the stage for a thrilling final round. With just one round remaining, Circle Christian’s girls are in the lead after an impressive 3-under 281, while TFA’s boys hold a narrow advantage at 1-under 287.

The stakes are high as only two teams shot under par, both hailing from the Orlando area. Circle Christian’s girls, riding a wave of momentum from their district and regional victories, now boast an eight-shot lead over FAU of Boca Raton and defending champions Montverde Academy, who are tied at 289. Senior stars Ana Boone (67) and Isabella Dovhey (69) played pivotal roles in this commanding performance.

“We had five solid scores today with a good plan from our practice round,” said coach Allyson Kotes. This confidence has propelled the Centurions, who shot a school-record 271 in district play and 287 in their regional meet.

On the boys’ side, TFA finds itself in a familiar and fierce competition against Benjamin School, trailing by just one shot. “We played the course exactly the way we hoped coming in,” remarked TFA coach Robin Rosado, highlighting the challenges of the front nine. Senior Mingbo Jiang led the Royals with a stellar 4-under-par 68, tying with Benjamin’s Andrew Tsar for the individual lead.

As teams prepare for the final 18 holes, the tension mounts. Circle Christian’s Karl Stenson, Montverde’s Byungchan Yoon, and Windermere Prep’s Chase Bauer are all tied for third at 69. Defending individual champion Luke Gossett from Circle Christian recorded a bogey-free 70, keeping the competition fierce.

With the final round set to commence, all eyes are on how these teams will navigate the course and whether Circle Christian can maintain their lead or if TFA can reclaim their title.

The excitement is palpable as golf fans anticipate what promises to be a thrilling conclusion to the state finals. Stay tuned for updates as the teams prepare for the last push at Mission Inn Golf Resort.