Benjamin boys golf recalls unlikely ride to state championship at ring ceremony
PALM BEACH GARDENS — Benjamin School's boys golf team enjoyed a long-awaited ring celebration on Tuesday to commemorate the program's state championship victory in November.
Buccaneers head coach Toby Harbeck gathered with assistant coaches and players at the Upper Campus for a ceremony that most knew would be seen through misty eyes.
Harbeck, who has led the program to four state titles in 40 years as head coach, fought a brave fight to choke back tears during the passionate speech as his players admired their new jewelry.
"I told myself I wasn't going to do this," Harbeck said, wiping a wet cheek with his sleeve before telling the story of the night before the last battle of the season when the Bucs came back from four shots behind with six holes left to win the 1A title by a single stroke.
He only surrendered when thanking his wife, Adeila, for the sacrifices she's made for him to spend his days on the fairways; and his players, for the sacrifices they made to make him proud.
"We sat in the hotel room and we talked about what we had to do tomorrow, and I told them that when you win a state championship, no one can ever take that away from you," Harbeck said. "You can be 75 years old sitting in a chair with your grandkids on you and you can tell them, 'I was a state champion.' "
Tiger Woods in audience for state champions
Fifteen-time major champion Tiger Woods gleamed with pride in an audience of Benjamin families as his son, Charlie, rocked the ring box back and forth in his hands, watching light dance on the jewelry's diamonds.
"You know, we don't call him Tiger. We call him Dad because he's Dad," Harbeck said. "And Charlie's not Tiger Woods' son, but he's Charlie, and that's the way they want it to be."
"Tiger's been there a lot — it's great to have him watching. We were playing a match at home, 18 holes, and we finished shooting a course-record 15-under. Tiger's sitting next to me and he goes, 'What did we shoot, coach?' "
News of the milestone prompted an "Are you kidding me?" from the elder Woods, who proceeded to go and shake all of the players' hands for their performances.
Jake Valentine's time to shine
Sophomore Jake Valentine is among the eight golfers expected back next year and he'll return with confidence from a stellar state performance.
He was the Bucs' lowest scorer with a 148 — tying for eighth overall — and sank a 25-foot birdie on No. 17 to help the team clinch the title.
"It's very rewarding being part of this team and the feeling is awesome," Valentine said. "Obviously, before I sunk the winning putt, I had to stay calm in the moment."
Valentine almost didn't make the trip. A week prior, he found himself competing in a playoff among his teammates to see who would go to state and didn't win until the final round of the three-day tournament.
"I didn't play really great prior to that," Valentine said. "Just getting a spot at state out of 12 really competitive players was an honor."
Valentine said he knows the season was a "team effort," and he's ready to put in the work to run it back with Harbeck, Woods and his talented teammates in 2024.
"They'll work hard this summer," Harbeck said. "Play in a lot of tournaments, they'll come back in August and we'll chase No. 2. It's gonna be an exciting year."
Emilee Smarr is a sports reporter for The Palm Beach Post. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.
Benjamin's boys golf state champions
Head coach Toby Harbeck
Assistant coach Chris Ellie
Tyler Bruneau
Brooks Colton
Aiden Miller
Jack Nicoletta
Travis Robertson
Drew Sterling
Andrew Tsar
Jake Valentine
Luke Wise
Charlie Woods
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Tiger Woods, Elin Nordegren see Charlie Woods, Benjamin golf get rings
