Bayside's Watkinson wins state bowling; Mustangs golfer second in state 2A tournament

John Watkinson rolled through the boys field Wednesday and Thursday to win the FHSAA bowling championship at Boardwalk Bowl in Orlando.

Watkinson qualified with the No. 3 individual score on the first morning and then beat all five opponents in championship bracket play. He defeated Connor Pipho of Miami Palmetto for the title.

Space Coast finished second in girls team competition, losing the championship match to Oviedo. The Vipers eliminated Rockledge in the next-to-last round of consolation play.

Eau Gallie High produced the top qualifying boys team and six individual Brevard bowlers earned spots on championship brackets Wednesday. Rockledge had the deepest run among area boys teams, winning two matches in consolation before falling to eventual state runner-up Apopka.

Watkinson, the youngest of seven, five of whom bowled for Bayside, added to a Bears bowling history that includes a boys team championship in 2012 and runner-up finish in 2015. One of his older brothers, Daniel, bowled a 300 at the 2014 state tournament.

Eau Gallie's Michael Coffey won state in 2011, the same year Cocoa's Emily Wheeler won the girls individual title. Titusville's girls team won in 2014.

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Watkinson's qualifying rounds went 219-268-191-258—936. Matthew Jaraplasan of Space Coast qualified fourth among all 163 boys, shooting games of 248, 200, 237 and 244 for a 929.

Jaraplasan was sitting second before Watkinson's performance and was one of four Brevard boys in the top 16, all of whom earned spots on the championship bracket.

The Rockledge girls earned the No. 2 seed with a 3,615 and were joined in championship competition by the fourth-seeded Vipers, who qualified with a 3,531.

Rockledge's Jackie Koehler was seventh in girls qualifying with rounds of 215-214-192-225 for an 846. Riverdale's Cyndee Whiteleather led with a 921. Monique Koehler, also of Rockledge, bowled 183-187-215-238—823 to reach in the championship bracket.

Cocoa's Amber Moore skimmed her way into the 15th spot, scoring 173-210-213-226—822.

Other Brevard boys in the top 16 were Eau Gallie's Brandon Bragg, sixth with a 243-201-222-235—901; his teammate Andrew Reed (224-199-226-235—884) and Kyle Richardson of Rockledge (205-213-247-213—878).

The Commodores combined for a 4,147 score, three better than Circle Christian, the No. 2 boys team in qualifying. Space Coast (4,003) qualified seventh and Rockledge (4,001) eighth.

Mustangs golfer ties for second in 2A

John Houchin of Merritt Island shot a 72 Wednesday and tied for second at the Class 2A boys golf tournament in Howey-in-the-Hills at Mission Inn Resort and Club.

Houchin's 72 followed the 75 he shot Tuesday, for a two-day total of 147, tying Plantation American Heritage's Luke Clanton for second behind 2A champion Jason Duff of Menendez, who finished at 145.

Merritt Island finished eighth as a team at 331-343—674. Ponte Vedra shot 298-306—604 to win.

Cross country:Satellite High boys, Gabe Montague among 2A contenders Saturday