Below is a school-by-school glance at the 14 Pasco County prep golf teams, including Academy at the Lakes and the Sunlake girls, which were not included in the preview which ran in Thursday’s Pasco Tribune…

ACADEMY AT THE LAKES
COACHES: Boys and Girls – Kevin Crowley
CLASS/DISTRICT: 1A-9
BOYS TO WATCH: Eric Durfee, Jr., Michael Setteducato, Sr., Nikhil Ferris, Sr.
GIRLS TO WATCH: Ellen Crowley, Fr.
OUTLOOK: The Wildcats compete as a co-ed team until districts, when Ellen Crowley will play as an individual in the girls tournament. … The team’s top player thus far is Durfee, who is looking to break 40 this year and probably will do so consistently by the end of the year. The rest of the team shoots from the mid-40s to the low-50s. … The loss of state qualifier Alexandra Irish, now playing collegiately at Division III Mount Holyoke (Mass.), means this is a rebuilding year.

BISHOP MCLAUGHLIN
COACHES: Boys and Girls – Eileen Locke
CLASS/DISTRICT: 1A-9
BOYS TO WATCH: Michael Holmes, Sr., Kentaro Toyota, So.
GIRLS TO WATCH: Liz Anderson, Sr., Spencer Valdespino, Fr.
OUTLOOK: The Hurricanes are fielding a co-ed team, but it is a deep squad with nine players. Toyota shot 39 in an early-season match against Tampa Prep, and the top four shot a respectable 191. Locke has been pleased with Holmes’ improvement as well, shooting mid 40s. It appears the Hurricanes will be able to hold their own and perhaps surprise in a tough district.

GULF
COACHES: Boys – Paul Girardi; Girls – Bret Wiest
CLASS/DISTRICT: 2A-12
BOYS TO WATCH: Jesse DeBeaumont, Jr., Shayne Grubb, So.
GIRLS TO WATCH: Bailey Logan, Sr., Morgan Winkler, So., Tonia Van Nort, Jr.
OUTLOOK: The boys squad has a couple players capable of shooting in the low 40s in DeBeaumont and Grubb, but they are working on their distance as the longer holes seem to be giving them the most trouble. Their relative youth means this year could be the start of a very good run for the Bucs. … Logan, a two-time first-team All-Conference player, finally has a complete team around her. She recently posted her personal best round, a 39 at Fox Hollow, en route to the Bucs’ 3-0 start to the season.

HUDSON
COACHES: Boys – Eric Kruck; Girls – Flo Massaro
CLASS/DISTRICT: 2A-12
BOYS TO WATCH: Jeff Kerns, Sr., Jack Starr, Sr.
GIRLS TO WATCH: Cassie Lopata, Jr.
OUTLOOK: Kearns is the top Cobra coming back, and has improved his stroke average to the low 40s thus far this year. Kruck believes he has a chance to make regionals as an individual. As for the team, Hudson does have a large Boys turnout but most are still learning the game. … The Girls team likely will not have the numbers to compete as a team, but Massaro, in her first year, likes what she’s seen out of her three players, including juniors Keisha James and Kristen Stump.

LAND O’ LAKES
COACHES: Boys – Leslie Stanford; Girls – Mary Jane Walker
CLASS/DISTRICT: 2A-6
BOYS TO WATCH: Josh Barnett, Sr., Brad Renner, Austin Costa
GIRLS TO WATCH: Brianna Van Stekelenburg, Sr.
OUTLOOK: Barnett, a second-team All-Conference selection who shot 80 in the SAC Tournament and 75 in the 2A-6 tournament, is back and posting low nine-hole scores (33 against Sunlake earlier this year). With other returning starters Renner and Costa, the Gators started 3-0 and should consistently post four scores in the 40s or lower. … The girls team is comprised of four first-year players, including Kirsten McColl, Kaitlin Graham, and Sara Kirkland, who happen to be seniors. They are dealing with the struggles of learning the game, but are rapidly improving, Walker said.

MITCHELL
COACHES: Boys – Rick Hyatt; Girls – Joe Castellano
CLASS/DISTRICT: 2A-12
BOYS TO WATCH: Kenny Cavender, Sr., Chaz Heinz, Jr., Austin Richardson, Jr.
GIRLS TO WATCH: Megan Van Etten, Jr.; Kristen Pitts; Jr; Victoria Kinney, Jr.
OUTLOOK: Both Mustangs’ squads have depth but are expecting to face tough tests within the county throughout the season. Though the boys are returning all of their key contributors from last season, including 2007 Tribune Boys Golfer of the Year Cavender, they suffered an early setback against Wiregrass Ranch, showing just how challenging it will be for them to stay at the top this year. … The girls are led by Van Etten, the 2007 Tribune Girls Golfer of the Year, and now her sister, Rebecca, is on the team as a freshman and is shooting low-to-mid 40s. After posting wins by more than 30 strokes thus far, this team will be tough to beat within the county.

PASCO
COACHES: Boys – Mickey Wilks; Girls – Tammy Gibson
CLASS/DISTRICT: 1A-9
BOYS TO WATCH: Danny Prescott, Sr., Jacob Ritter, Sr, Winston Johnson III, Jr.
GIRLS TO WATCH: Ashley Gibson, Sr., Tori Bryant, Jr.
OUTLOOK: The boys are off to a 2-1 start with wins against Gulf and Hudson and the loss to Mitchell. Prescott, Ritter and Johnson were the Pirates’ top three last year and will be shooting in the 40s, along with sophomore Stephen Lavelle. … The girls are excited because they have more depth – 11 players – then ever under Tammy Gibson. Though she still classifies 2008 as a rebuilding year, the program seems to be gaining momentum and may surprise.

RIDGEWOOD
COACHES: Boys – Gary Zimmerman; Girls – Harry Mortner
CLASS/DISTRICT: 2A-12
BOYS TO WATCH: Jordan Padova, Sr., Randy Watkins, Sr., Jeff Koos, Jr.
GIRLS TO WATCH: Amber Page, Sr.
OUTLOOK: The Boys team, which is loaded with All-Conference talent, is poised to make a run for the SAC title and make noise in the state playoffs. In addition to the three to watch, who all shoot in the mid-and-upper 30s, freshman Austin Padova, who shot 33 in a win against River Ridge this season, makes this team even better than in 2007, Zimmerman said. … Page is the unquestioned leader of the Girls squad, in her fourth year with the team. She averages in the low 40s but Mortner believes she will post a few scores in the 30s this season.

RIVER RIDGE
COACHES: Boys – Mike Marlin; Girls – Ernie Beck
CLASS/DISTRICT: 2A-12
BOYS TO WATCH: Cory Altwies, Sr., Chris Dodson, Fr.
GIRLS TO WATCH: Kim Donato, So., Sarah Simon, Sr., Samantha Stahl, Sr.
OUTLOOK: The Boys shared the SAC title last year but lost many of the key contributors from that team. Altwies, who shoots in the upper 30s, remains strong, while Dodson and senior Chris Caskey have been pleasant surprises. … The girls, with 2007 regional qualifier Donato leading the way, are expected to be competitive according to Beck. The major question will be how they fare against Mitchell, which Beck described as “the team to beat”.

SADDLEBROOK PREP
COACHES: Boys – Mark Herschey; Girls – Mike Tali
CLASS/DISTRICT: 1A-9
BOYS TO WATCH: Seokil Kim, Jr., Robbie Riehle, Sr.
GIRLS TO WATCH: N/A
OUTLOOK: The Spartans’ always-formidable squads don’t begin their season until Saturday. They also have an interesting match set up against Ridgewood and Hudson at The Links on Sep. 11. .... Herschey does not expect his squad to be as strong as in years past, though they probably will be favored to win the district once again with Kim leading the way, averaging slightly over par. … The girls lost two starters to graduation last year but are looking to better their seventh-place finish at states. Their last state title was in 1999.

SUNLAKE
COACHES: Boys – Kevin Flynn; Girls – Billy Garcia
CLASS/DISTRICT: 1A-9
BOYS TO WATCH: Nick Julian, Sr., Donald Eubanks, Jr., Clay Boger, Jr.
GIRLS TO WATCH: Rachel Palenik, Fr., Austi Garrison, Sr.
OUTLOOK: Flynn, in his first season, believes the Seahawks will be a surprise team within the county. A victory against Zephyrhills and a two-stroke loss to Land O’ Lakes proves his point. Both Eubanks and Boger have shot in the 30s this season, showing vast improvement from a year ago. … Despite the loss of their No. 1 player from a year ago, the girls posted a victory against Land O’ Lakes and are comprised of players shooting from the mid 50s. Garcia believes the team has the ability to improve, and said the squad looks promising for next year as well.

WESLEY CHAPEL
COACHES: Boys – Alan Black; Girls – TBA
CLASS/DISTRICT: 2A-6
BOYS TO WATCH: Brandon Mumaw, So., Jacob Fleck, So.
GIRLS TO WATCH: N/A
OUTLOOK: The Wildcats are a very young team with mostly freshmen and sophomores, but Mumaw and Fleck may be among the county’s best by year’s end. They are both capable of shooting in the 30s and making it to regionals, Black said. The Wildcats are still looking for a solid No. 4 golfer who can make the team more competitive. … After putting together one of the county’s best girls teams last year, Coach Scott Boyd resigned the position, a replacement hasn’t been hired and only one girl has come out for the 2008 team, according to Wildcats AD Steve Mumaw.

WIREGRASS RANCH
COACHES: Boys – Nick Cuviello; Girls – Ariana Leonard
CLASS/DISTRICT: 1A-9
BOYS TO WATCH: Dylan Larson, Jr.; James Mudge, Sr., Logan Horrigan, Fr.
GIRLS TO WATCH: Cady Gonzalez, Jr., Taylor Upchurch, So.
OUTLOOK: The boys stand a good chance to improve on last year’s 6-5 record, and perhaps contend for a conference title, thanks to a surge in depth. Four players are now capable of shooting in the high 30s and low 40s, with Larson leading the squad with an expected average of one to two-over par per round. … The girls’ squad also is experiencing an influx in talent, led by Gonzalez and Upchurch as co-captains. This rapidly-improving group should be posting much better scores by the end of the year.

ZEPHYRHILLS
COACHES: Boys – Chuck Lail; Girls – Richard Green
CLASS/DISTRICT: 1A-9
BOYS TO WATCH: Cody Nichols, Fr., A.J. Wright, Sr., Kyle Farrell, Jr.
GIRLS TO WATCH: Laurren McLeod, Sr., Ashley Zullo, Sr., Sarah Baniszewski, Jr.
OUTLOOK: Having lost three starters from last year’s third-place district team, Zephyrhills is braced for a rebuilding year but does have some future stars in place. Nichols is averaging 43 in his first year of prep golf, with Wright and Farrell posting mid-40s scores consistently. … McLeod and Baniszewski are capable of shooting in the low 40s.

Compiled by Correspondent Bart O’Connell, who can be reached at tampasport@gmail.com.