Golf

Fore! Meet the Ledger’s 2023 All-County Girls Golf Team

Published

7 months ago

December 19, 2023

The year 2023 has been the year of consistency when it comes to Polk County golf.

Just last year it was Kathleen’s Darby Hancock who won The Ledger’s Girls’ Golfer of the Year and McKeel’s Jeremy Bohnenstiehl who was Boys’ Coach of the Year.

But the player and the coach won the same awards in 2023 because of the numerous earned accomplishments throughout the year.

They have gone through the gauntlet of competitors and have come out on top, and for that, they are the best of the best this year.

Here is The Ledger’s 2023 Girls Golf All-County team.

Player of the Year

All County Golf – Kathleen High School -Darby Hancock in Lakeland Fl.. Friday December 8,2023. Ernst Peters/The Ledger

Darby Hancock

Kathleen, junior

Averages: 9-hole: 34.3 18-hole: 71.5

Hancock has been Polk’s best girls’ golfer the past few season.

Last year, she was The girls’ Golfer of the Year, and the year before she was knocking on the door.

This year, she placed first in district and state, while placing second in county and tied for fourth in regionals.

Yes, her experience very much helps, as Hancock has been playing at a high level since middle school.

But this year she has learned to keep calm in high-leverage moments, and that is thanks to her determination and coaching.

Coach of the Year

All County Golf – McKeel Academy – Coach Jeremy Bohnenstiehl in Lakeland Fl.. Friday December 8,2023. Ernst Peters/The Ledger

Jeremy Bohnenstiehl

McKeel

This is the second year in a row that Bohnenstiehl has won Coach of the Year, and its with good reason.

The WIldcats were first place for the second flight at Crutchfield/Hawkins, the county, district and regional champs, while also accomplishing fifth place at states. And for the year, McKeel racked up an 11-1 record.

First Team

All County Golf – McKeel Academy -Ava Bustos in Lakeland Fl.. Friday December 8,2023. Ernst Peters/The Ledger

Ava Bustos

McKeel, junior

AVERAGES: 37.5 9-Hole, 80.2 18-Hole

Bustos shot an even round of 36 at Cleveland Heights in a nine-hole match. She also shot a 76 on her first round at the state championship at Las Colinas.

All County Golf – McKeel Academy -Caroline DeKalb in Lakeland Fl.. Friday December 8,2023. Ernst Peters/The Ledger

Caroline DeKalb

McKeel, sophomore

AVERAGES: 38 9-Hole, 80.7 18-Hole

Tacked on a district score of 79, a regional score of 76 and shaved off 11 strokes from states, as it went from 171 to

All County Golf – McKeel Academy -Susie Davis in Lakeland Fl.. Friday December 8,2023. Ernst Peters/The Ledger 161.

Susie Davis

McKeel, senior

AVERAGES: 39.5 9-Hole, 83.8 18-Hole

Put up a score of 38 (9-Hole) at George Jenkins, a score of 41 against Sebring, a score of 42 vs. Lakeland, while also shaving off 24 strokes from states (188 to 164)

Georgia Grace Spence

McKeel, eighth grade

AVERAGES: 40.8 9-Hole, 87.8 18-Hole

Put up a score of 41 vs. Sebring, racked up a 42 vs. Lakeland Christian, tallied a 44 vs. Frostproof, while also shaving off 29 strokes from states thanks to going from a 188 to a 168.