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A first-time development happened to junior Winter Haven golfer Anthony Monteleone. But it didn’t impact the bigger picture for one of the best high school golfers in Polk County.
On Saturday before the FHSAA Class 3A, Region 2 Boys Golf Tournament, Monteleone was swinging his 7-iron at The Country Club of Winter Haven. Unexpectedly, the iron broke, as spectators could see the club flying on the course.
Staff ended up fixing the club. This small development happened to be symbolic of how the region tournament went for Monteleone, as the seasoned golfer shot a 71 — the same score as last year — placing eighth Monday at regions at Legends Golf & Country Club, which is the highest of any Polk County golfer at the region meet. Monteleone advanced to state.
“I did alright. Not great, but it was alright,” Monteleone said.
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Winter Haven’s best high school boys’ golfer had four bogeys ― three of them being three-putts — but it didn’t bring him down after still firing a round below par.
“I’m definitely happy because I haven’t shot under par in a couple rounds, but with all the work I put in putting and to go out and miss a couple really short putts (isn’t how I like to play),” he said.
For the first three holes, he started out inside 5 feet for birdie, and he ended up being even through those holes.
“It kind of just brought my confidence down because (they) were pretty short putts. I could have had a pretty good round,” Monteleone said.
And much like having a broken club a few days before regionals, having wiggly putts was also tough for the upperclassman.
But he buckled down, and told himself to keep playing and give it all he’s got in an effort to advance to state.
“The team was struggling. I had a good feeling we weren’t going because we were down about 12 strokes,” he said.
But Monteleone focused on himself, went to the back-nine and started off with a par and three birdies, then he three-putted a hole before bogeying his last hole.
“I came back pretty strong,” he said. “Played good all day. Just, the putter hurt me.”
Monteleone was able to come back strong because he is very familiar with the course thanks to playing on it three times overall, including a few individual tournaments he used to polish up.
As for Winter Haven as a team, the Blue Devils can still nab a Wild Card spot, though the team would have to be fortunate. The Blue Devils finished in eighth, while George Jenkins was 12th as a team.
In Class 2A, Region 2 boys’ action, McKeel placed fifth as a team, while Auburndale was eighth and Davenport was 12th. McKeel’s Samuel Pell (78) was 10th, McKeel’s KJ Scobey (79) was 14th and Auburndale’s Eron Threlkeled (80) finished 19th.
Mckeel Class 2A, Region 2 champs
The McKeel girls’ golf program were top dogs thanks to a score of 328, while Lake Wales was ninth with a 459 and Auburndale was 10th with a 516.
McKeel’s Caroline DeKalb tied for second with a 76, while Ava Bustos was sixth with an 81 and Susie Davis was seventh with an 83. McKeel’s Georgia Grace Spence was 10th with an 88 and Carly McKnight was 12th with a 91.
And in Class 3A, Region 2 action, Lakeland placed 10th with a 384, while George Jenkins was 12th with a 452.
Kathleen’s Darby Hancock finished in sixth with a 73.
Official state places will be out Thursday.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Blue Devils’ Monteleone overcomes broken club, advances to state golf