Circle Christian Girls, TFA Boys Lead at 1A State Golf Finals

BREAKING: Circle Christian’s girls team and The First Academy’s (TFA) boys team are in the lead after a thrilling first day at the FHSAA Class 1A golf state finals at Mission Inn Golf Resort in Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida. With only 18 holes remaining on Saturday, both Orlando area teams have set the stage for a dramatic finish.

The TFA boys clinched a 1-under-par 287, taking a narrow one-shot lead over second-place Benjamin School of Palm Beach Gardens. Meanwhile, Circle Christian’s girls dominated with an impressive 3-under 281, extending their advantage to eight shots over FAU of Boca Raton and defending champions Montverde Academy, who are tied for second with 289.

Circle Christian’s remarkable performance follows their school-record 271 at district play and a 287 at regionals, both victories showcasing their confidence and teamwork. “The girls have a lot of confidence after district and region,” said coach Allyson Kotes. “We had five solid scores today with a good plan from our practice round.”

Leading the charge for the Centurions, Ana Boone fired a stunning 67, placing her atop the individual standings, while teammate Isabella Dovhey shot 69 to secure third. The team’s cohesion shines through, as Kotes added, “They’ve all known each other since junior golf and have great team chemistry.”

On the boys’ side, TFA is no stranger to high-stakes competition. Two years ago, they faced off against Benjamin in a nail-biting finish, with Benjamin edging them out for the title. TFA coach Robin Rosado expressed satisfaction with their performance, stating, “We played the course exactly the way we hoped coming in. The front nine is extremely difficult.”

In individual standings, TFA’s senior Mingbo Jiang matched Andrew Tsar of Benjamin with a remarkable 4-under-par 68, setting the stage for an intense battle tomorrow. Close behind, Circle Christian’s Karl Stenson, Montverde’s Byungchan Yoon, and Windermere Prep’s Chase Bauer are tied for third with scores of 69. Defending individual champion Luke Gossett recorded a bogey-free 70 for the Centurions.

As the final day approaches, both teams are poised for what could be a historic conclusion to the state finals. Circle Christian coach Wade Gossett remains optimistic, stating, “I like our position two shots back and we’re excited about tomorrow.”

Stay tuned for updates as the tension builds at Mission Inn. This is shaping up to be a thrilling finale for the FHSAA Class 1A golf state finals!