A walk with Tiger Woods and another close call for Episcopal boys golf in 1A state tournament
The Episcopal boys golf team keeps banging on the door in the Class 1A state golf tournament.
But Wednesday's second round resulted in yet another close call, after a valiant effort that couldn't help but impress one spectator in particular: World Golf Hall of Fame member Tiger Woods.
The Eagles dropped a bunch of birdies on the closing holes of the Mission Inn Resort's El Campeon Course on another dreary, windy day in Howey-on-the-Hills and finished third at 28-over-par 604, two shots behind team champion Palm Beach Benjamin and one behind First Academy.
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It was Episcopal's second third-place finish, along with a second in 2022, in the last four years.
Episcopal coach Mark Tutor estimated that his team was nine shots behind with five holes to play. The four players who scored for the Eagles, Cam Goldknopf, Connor Hess, Henry Robards and Aubrey Fellows, played those holes at 4-under with seven birdies to make it close at the end.
"We got off to a slow start but the guys started getting comfortable in uncomfortable conditions," Tutor said. "They really fought back and I'm extremely proud of them. They showed a lot of grit to the end."
Tiger Woods followed his son
One player in particular had to block out a distraction: senior Henry Robards, who was paired with Charlie Woods of Benjamin, the son of the 15-time major champion.
Woods walked all 18 holes with his son but Robards shot 75 to win the head-to-head battle by one shot, and tied for 23rd in the tournament at 9-over, a shot clear of Charlie Woods.
"I know Henry was excited to be in the same group with Tiger," Tutor said. "And it's probably tough to turn around and see Tiger Woods walking every hole. But once it started, Henry did a good job of blocking it out."
Robards also had the best finish on the team, making birdies at Nos. 14, 15 and 16 to shoot 2-under on the final five holes. Charlie Woods was 1-under on the same stretch.
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Goldknopf (75) tied for fifth at 3-over, Hess (75) tied for 16th at 6-over and Fellows (78) tied for 26th at 10-over.
Goldknopf, Hess, Robards, and No. 5 player Patrick George are seniors. Tutor said he has some younger players eager to reload next season.
Bolles finished 15th, led by Luke Balaskiewicz (75--147) in a tie for fifth.
In the girls 1A tournament at the Las Colinas Course, Bolles finished 14th and Episcopal 16th. However, the Eagles Sahanna Chokshi shot 69 with a birdie at the last to move into a tie for eighth at 1-over 142.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Episcopal boys golf stages late rally but finishes two back in 1A golf
