Lions Post 305 at Winter Park Invitational
Oviedo’s boys’ golf team shot a 305 (+17) - their best team score of the season - Tuesday at the Winter Park Invitational at Rio Pinar, placing all four counting scores in the 70s as the Lions prepare for conference and district competition.
“I was thrilled with the way we played today,” Coach Howell said. “To put four guys in the 70s is always a good thing.”
Xander Pendry led Oviedo with a 74, hitting 13 greens in regulation and recording two birdies and 12 pars. He avoided both penalties and double bogeys, providing a steady round at the top of the lineup.
“Xander has been a little off lately,” Howell said. “He started out three over today but came back strong with two big birdies. He looked much more comfortable today than last weekend.”
Hayden Fuller followed with a 76, leading the Lions with four birdies. Fuller hit 10 greens in regulation and finished with 30 putts, delivering another strong counting score.
“Hayden has played really well of late,” Howell said. “If a couple of those short putts had fallen, he could have shot even lower.”
Holt Rue added a 77 with two birdies and 11 pars. His putting helped keep the round on track: he needed just 29 putts and recorded no misses inside six feet.
“What a fighter!” Howell said. “He still didn’t quite have his best stuff, but he found a way to shoot 77.”
Landon Francis rounded out the counting scores with a 78, his second-best showing of the season. Francis hit 12 fairways, made 12 pars and avoided double bogeys entirely. Despite hitting only six greens in regulation, he kept mistakes manageable and finished with 30 putts.
“Landon, Holt and Grayson hold the keys to the truck,” Howell said. “They can all shoot in the 70s any day they go out.”
Grayson Oldson shot 87, hitting 12 fairways and playing without a penalty. Finding greens proved more difficult, however, as he finished with four greens in regulation and five double bogeys or worse.
“Grayson is continuing to improve,” Howell said. “His irons just weren’t sharp today. Finished strong over the last few holes.”
Freshman Judah Klimis finished with a 96 in his first tournament appearance.
“For a first tournament, this wasn’t too bad,” Howell said. “The kid has come a long way in a very short time. He just has to learn how to execute his shots under this type of pressure.”
Oviedo’s counting four combined for 119 putts, meeting the team’s 18-hole goal of 120 or fewer. They also limited their total to four penalty strokes and three holes of double bogey or worse.
With just four strokes separating their counting scores, the Lions showed the balanced scoring and ability to limit costly mistakes they will look to carry into the postseason.
Bishop Moore Invitational
Day 1: Lions Battle Wind at Shingle Creek
Oviedo’s boys’ golf team posted a 336 team score in the opening round of the Bishop Moore Invitational at Shingle Creek, battling hurricane-related winds throughout the day.
Xander Pendry led the Lions with an 80, followed by Hayden Fuller’s 84, Holt Rue’s 85 and Grayson Oldson’s 87. Landon Francis finished with a 91.
Pendry recorded eight pars and a birdie. Fuller also made eight pars and met the individual putting goal with 30 putts. Rue led Oviedo with two birdies, while Oldson found nine fairways and avoided penalty strokes in the difficult conditions.
Putting and limiting big numbers remained priorities heading into Saturday. The four counting players combined for 134 putts, above the team’s goal of 120, along with five penalty strokes and seven doubles or worse.
“We actually have gotten much better with putting,” Coach Howell stated. “These greens were big and had big breaks. We didn’t putt them very well.”
The Lions head to Dubsdread for the final round looking to sharpen their putting and turn difficult holes into manageable finishes.
Day 2: Lions Improve by 12 Strokes at Dubsdread
Oviedo’s boys’ golf team improved by 12 strokes in Saturday’s final round of the Bishop Moore Invitational, posting a 324 at Dubsdread to finish with a 660 two-day total.
Hurricane-related winds continued to challenge the field.
Xander Pendry led the Lions with a 78, finishing at 158 for the tournament. He hit 10 fairways and nine greens in regulation, recording 11 pars and a birdie.
Holt Rue followed his opening 85 with an 80 for a 165 total. Rue made 11 pars and finished with 27 putts despite hitting only three greens in regulation.
Grayson Oldson improved four strokes with an 83, including two birdies, to finish at 170. Hayden Fuller also shot 83, giving him a 167 total and a counting score both days. Landon Francis finished with a 96 for 187.
“Hayden and Grayson are key guys right now,” Coach Howell remarked. “They both have to shoot right around 80 in SAC and Districts for us to have a chance.”
The four counting players combined for 132 putts, two fewer than Friday but still above the team’s goal of 120. They also reduced their penalties to four and their doubles or worse to six.
“We expect a lot from Xander and Holt,” Coach Howell stated Saturday afternoon. “We expect them to be almost perfect and carry us. They are the only players we have this year with any kind of tournament experience. They have done remarkably well, but this weekend they were simply off their game. When they have those days, the team feels it. We just haven’t developed the scoring depth we need.
“If they play what I call their normal game on Friday and Saturday, we finish right where we belong—around +24. I’m amazed they have both played so well this entire season under that kind of pressure - the pressure to carry the team. It says a lot about who they are as competitors.”
It Is Not Too Early to Think About Next Year’s Golf Team
The work that prepared this year’s team began back in December. After taking a month off following the season, our players started getting ready for the next one. It can be a demanding process, but becoming a competitive golfer requires year-round preparation.
Golf is not a sport you can wait to start practicing until tryouts arrive. You may be a good player, but tryouts last only three days. A long layoff can leave you rusty and seriously hurt your chances of making the team.
Improvement requires consistent practice, tournament experience and preparation throughout the year. I know the idea of playing in tournaments can be scary, but so can standing on the first tee at a match while everyone watches you tee off. Even the best players feel those nerves. The goal is to get used to that feeling and learn to play through it. The more often you put yourself in those situations, the more comfortable and confident you can become.
The good news is that you do not have to practice for hours every day—unless your goal is to become an elite player. Focused practice for about an hour, three days a week, along with playing nine holes every few weeks, can help you develop your game and make a big difference down the road. Make sure that practice includes chipping and putting, not just hitting balls on the range.
Golf is a funny game. You have to love it enough to stick with it through the ups and downs, put in the work during the long, hot days of summer, and be willing to practice when everyone else is playing video games.
If you’re willing to do that, consider becoming part of Oviedo Golf. The future of our program is kids just like you.
If you are serious about playing for the Oviedo Boys Golf Team, now is the time to start preparing. We will graduate four of our top six golfers after this season, creating several openings in next year’s lineup. Returning players and newcomers will have an opportunity to compete for those positions, and incoming freshmen will have a legitimate chance to move directly into the varsity lineup.
That type of opportunity has not existed in our program for the past five years. Take advantage of it by starting now.
Continue checking this website for range workouts, practice ideas and team updates.
Workout Links: October
