Prep girls golf: Church leads Naples to district title
After leading Baron Collier to a district title a year ago with a medalist performance, Annika Church finished as a medalist again, but not for the Cougars.
Earning medalist honors shooting a 2-under-par 70, Church led Naples girls golf to the team title Monday at the Class 2A-District 21 tournament at the Pelican Sound Golf and River Club.
“My score was consistent the whole game,” Church said. “I’m actually really proud of myself.”
In their first year under coach Laura Jewell-Nichols, the Golden Eagles finished with a team score of 341, just one stroke ahead of Estero (342).
“We did not play our best golf by any stretch,” Estero coach Norm Heyboer said. “We struggled. Quite honestly the fact that we lost by one stroke knowing that we didn’t play as well as we did last week in conference I’m not sure how much sleep I’ll get tonight.”
Following up Church’s medalist performance, Ashley Zimmermann carded an 84 to finish fourth while Vivian Guite carded an 85 to finish tied for fifth for Naples.
With three golfers finishing in the top 10 individually, Estero’s team score was enough to book them a spot in regionals while last year’s district champion, Barron Collier, finished third with a team score of 352 to round out the three teams advancing to regionals.
“We’re actually glad to move on,” Barron Collier coach Richie Packish said. “The team last year to this year can’t compare. This year I have a young team so to come out under pressure and shoot the score that we had, I’m so proud of the girls.”
While Meredith Datillo’s 124 rounded out the individual regional qualifiers, her score was forced into a tiebreaker as East Lee’s Anahi Hernandez shot a 124 as well.
Datillo’s score on the back nine provided the tiebreaker between her and Hernandez as her shot was lower.
Datillo will join individual regional qualifiers Palmetto Ridge’s Megan Pagan and Golden Gate’s Alexis Davis in the regional tournament.
With the regional tournament taking place at The Quarry Golf Club, Church has high expectations for the Golden Eagles coming into Tuesday’s tournament.
“We’re going to take states and we’re pretty positive about it,” Church said.
Girls golf
Class 2A- District 21 tournament
At Pelican Sound Golf and River Club
Team scores (top 3 advance)
Naples 341, Estero 342, Baron Collier 352, Palmetto Ridge 473, Lely NTS, Golden Gate NTS, Immokalee NTS, East Lee NTS
Individual regional qualifiers
Megan Pagan (PR) 80, Alexis Davis (GG) 113, Meredith Datillo (PR) 124
Top 10 individuals
1. Annika Church (N) 70, 2. Kelli Kragh (E) 75, 3. Kim Egozi (E) 77, 4. Megan Pagan (PR) 80, Ashley Zimmermann (N) 84, T-5. Vivian Guite (N) 85, T-5. Chelsea Baker (BC) 85, 7. Aly Packish (BC) 87, 8. Ashley Cardona (BC) 88, T-9. Emma Brown (E) 92, T-9. Alexandra Tomdan 92.
Individual team results
Naples: Annika Church 70, Ashley Zimmermann 84, Vivian Guite 85, Isabella Dorobanti 102, Alyssa Dehnz 104
Estero: Kelli Kragh 75, Kim Egozi 77, Emma Brown 92, Mackenzie Brown 98, Meredith Brown 102
Barron Collier: Chelsea Baker 85, Ally Packish 87, Ashley Cardona 88, Alexdra Tomdan 92, Alexandra Quinonez 107
Palmetto Ridge: Megan Pagan 80, Meredith Dattilo 124, Kayla Morrison 130, Ashley Watts 139, Deborah Ledesma 160
Lely: Zayan Nelson 158, Adamaris Santiago 160, Patricia Zepeda 162, Nicole Hallinan 162
Golden Gate: Alexis Davis 113, Stefany De La Osa 134, Julietta Mendoza 148, Karen Aguirra 148
Immokalee: Mercedes Salinas 136, Aracli Anzulalda 154, Cindy Jaimes 178, Julian Rodriguez WD
East Lee: Anahi Hernandez 124