Prep golf: Naples, Estero girls advance from Class 2A regional to state tourney

The Naples and Estero high school girls golf teams were just relieved Monday.

The favored Golden Eagles were unsure what to expect, but did the expected -- cruising to the Class 2A-Region 7 title by 20 strokes at Vineyards Country Club. Estero, which has come up short as a team and individually from qualifying, had to wait feverishly as the scores came in.

The Wildcats are joining Naples, though, after their 357 edged Lemon Bay by eight strokes for the second and final qualifying spot.

"We've been so close," said Estero's Kelli Kragh, who just missed qualifying as an individual when her team finished third last year. "This is just amazing to go with my team. It's such a team effort. we've tried so hard during our season. We've really come together as a family and it's an amazing bond we have together."

"It was kind of scary knowing how close it was going to be."

The Eagles and Wildcats were separated by just a stroke at last week's district tournament, which Naples won. Lemon Bay also has a historically strong team, so with only two spots, that heightened the nerves.

"We heard Lemon Bay is coming into our region," said Naples' Annika Church, who led the Eagles with a 76 and was second overall. "We were already worried about Estero, but we put our best out there and we did really well and I'm really proud."

Estero coach Norm Heyboer didn't shy away from the Wildcats coming so close last year. They talked it about after last year and also on the first day of practice this year.

"I was really stressed out and worried," he said. "We didn't play well at districts and we didn't play well again today.

"This team is so close. They truly love each other and the bond is special."

Hannah Revell of Hardee, who had a 73, was the medalist. Vivian Guite followed Church for the Eagles with an 80, Ashley Zimmermann had an 88, and Isabella Dorobanti shot a 90.

"I'm excited for another year at states," said Church, who transferred from Barron Collier this year. "This will be my third year in a row. I feel like I could've played better today but I'm really proud of my team for pulling it together. We had a great group of scores."

"It's amazing," said first-year Naples coach Laura Jewell-Nichols, a former All-American at Wake Forest. "It's awesome. I'm just very proud of the girls. They played very hard today. they've been playing hard all season and it's paying off. They're a great team and i'm excited to see how well they can do at state.

"It's a very exciting way to start my coaching career."

The Class 2A state tournament is Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at Mission Inn Resort in Howey-in-the-Hills.

Kragh was fourth overall. Kim Egozi had an 83. Emma Brown had a 105, but when freshman Meredith Brown (no relation) came in with a 91,  Heyboer knew the Wildcats were finally going to state.

"We watched Meredith come in and we were so excited," Kragh said. "We were so happy for her because as a freshman for her to do this for our team ... it's really amazing what we can do and what we've learned how to do."

"I was doing the math in my head following her in and I knew if she scored around 90 which she did, that we  were going to do it," Heyboer said. "I was living and dying on every shot."

Palmetto Ridge's Megan Pagan was emotional after waiting for the final group to come in and realizing her 77 was good enough to earn the second qualifying spot for those not on an advancing team. Revell had the other spot.

"It feels like a dream," Pagan, a junior, said. "I never imagined that I would've made it. It was just so surprising. Everyone was so close with the scores. I'm super happy and it makes me want to cry."

Class 2A-Region 7 tournament

at Vineyards Country Club

Team scores

(Top 2 advance)

1. Naples 337; 2. Estero 357; 3. Lemon Bay 365; 4. Barron Collier 368; Cypress Lake NTS, Hardee NTS, Mariner NTS, North Fort Myers NTS, Bradenton Southeast NTS

Top individuals

1. Hannah Revell (Hardee) 73; 2. Annika Church (NAP) 76; 3. Megan Pagan (PR) 77; 4. Kelli Kragh (EST) 78; 5. Vivian Guite (NAP) 80; 6. Kim Egozi (EST) 83; 7. Meadow Southworth (LB) 84; 7. Ashley Cardona (BC) 84; 8. Hyasha Crumpton (LB) 87; 9. Ashley Zimmermann (NAP) 88; 9. Alexandra Tomodan (BC) 88.

Qualifying individuals

(Top 2 not on advancing team)

1. Revell 73; 2. Pagan 77