Prep golf: Neumann's Sophie Shrader qualifies for Class 1A state tournament

Sophie Shrader is following in her sister's footsteps. All the way to the Class 1A state tournament.

The St. John Neumann High School sophomore shot a 77 on Monday to advance out of the Class 1A-Region 6 tournament as an individual at San Carlos Golf Club.

"It's a big accomplishment," Shrader said. "It's nice to be going. I came out hoping to hit the fairway as much as I could. That was my strongest point of my game today."

"I think it shows her that she's one of the better players around town," Neumann coach Jeff Jones said. 

The 1A state tournament is Nov. 7-8 at Mission Inn Resort in Howey-in-the-Hills.

Shrader, whose sister Sydney starred as a Celtic and now plays for the University of North Florida, and Bishop Verot's Gabby Vetter, who shot a 76 that included a two-stroke penalty she called on herself, were the top two individuals not on a qualifying team.

"She's a good person to look up and try to be better than her," Shrader said of her sister.

Shrader was third overall, and Vetter was second -- Canterbury's Brittany Shin fired a 68 to easily take medalist honors.

Shin and the Cougars cruised to the team title with a 334 total. Bradenton-St. Stephen's finished second with a 361 to earn the other spot. 

Community School had tough luck two different ways. The Seahawks shot a 367 to finish third -- one spot out of advancing, and CSN's Elizabeth Amendola had an 80 to finish third on teams that did not qualify, meaning she was three strokes short of advancing.

Class 1A-Region 6

at San Carlos Golf Club

Team scores

(Top 2 advance)

1. Canterbury 334; 2. Bradenton-St. Stephen's 361; 3. Community School 367; 4. Bishop Verot 395; 5. St. John Neumann 433; 6. Southwest Florida Christian 495

Top individuals

1. Brittany Shin (CAN) 68; 2. Gabby Vetter (BV) 76; 3. Sophie Shrader (SJN) 77; 4. Sicila Xie (Sarasota Chr.) 78; 5. Maria Huang (SSE) 80; 5. Elizabeth Amendola (CSN) 80; 7. Claire Sattler (BV) 82; 7. Hannah Bailey (CAN) 82; 9. Catherine Huang (SSE) 84; 10. Alyson Bozof (CAN) 91.

Qualifying individuals

(Top 2 not on advancing team)

1. Vetter 76; 2. Shrader 77.