Leon High School’s boys golf team earned a regional berth with a runner-up finish, while Chiles’ Rhys Cochran also qualified for regionals capturing the individual district championship at the FHSAA Class 3A District 1 golf tournaments on Oct. 26 at Stonebrook Golf Club in Pace. Chiles’ Liza Baker Wright also punched her ticket for regionals as she finished tied for first with Niceville’s Tenley Sharron with the best individual score of 81 through 18 holes.
The boys and girls tournaments featured teams from across the district competing for regional qualification. The top two teams in each tournament earned regional berths, along with the top two individual golfers who did not qualify through a team.
On the boys side, Leon finished second with a team score of 311 (+23), just two strokes behind district champion Tate, which finished at 309 (+21). Chiles placed third at 315 (+27), while Lincoln finished seventh at 334 (+46).
In the girls tournament, Chiles placed fifth with a team score of 421 (+133). Liza Baker Wright led the Wolves individually, tying for the tournament’s best score with an 81 (+9) through 18 holes.
Leon Boys Secure Regional Berth
Leon’s second-place team finish was led by Liam Minton and Solomon Hardy, who finished second and third individually, respectively.
Minton carded a two-under-par 70 to finish two strokes behind Cochran, while Hardy recorded an even-par 72. Their performances helped the Lions finish ahead of Chiles by four strokes and secure one of the district’s two regional berths.
Aubrey Turner shot an 83 (+11) to tie for 19th, while Hudson Gardner finished with an 86 (+14) in 26th place. Andrew Suber rounded out Leon’s lineup with a 99 (+27).
Tate claimed the district team championship with a score of 309 (+21), narrowly holding off Leon for the top spot.
Cochran Wins Boys Individual Championship
Chiles junior Rhys Cochran delivered the top individual performance of the boys tournament, shooting a three-under-par 69 to win the district championship.
Cochran finished one stroke ahead of Leon’s Minton and three ahead of Hardy, giving Leon County golfers the top three individual positions.
Chiles finished third in the team standings, four strokes behind Leon. Asher Hall tied for ninth with a 78 (+6), while Parker Ritchie tied for 15th after shooting an 81 (+9). Mason Githens carded an 87 (+15), and Jackson Kukla finished with a 91 (+19).
Lincoln placed seventh at 334 (+46), led by Chase Fleischer, who shot a 75 (+3) to tie for fifth individually. Freshman Jack Marsey finished with an 84 (+12), tying for 21st, while Sutton Suber carded an 87 (+15) and Kale Hurd finished at 88 (+16). Bryce Garber completed the Trojans’ lineup with a 101 (+29).
Chiles Girls Finish Fifth as Baker Wright Leads County
The Chiles girls team finished fifth in the district standings with a combined score of 421 (+133), while Niceville won the district championship at 348 (+60). Pace finished second at 372 (+84), claiming the other team regional berth.
Chiles junior Liza Baker Wright led the Wolves and tied for first individually with an 81 (+9). She shared the tournament’s lowest score with Niceville junior Tenley Sharron, though the provided results do not indicate a playoff or tiebreaker to determine an outright individual champion.
Chiles junior Kate Mathis finished sixth with an 85 (+13), giving the Wolves two golfers in the top six. Aubyn Galloway led Leon’s individual representation with a 99 (+27), tying for 16th, while Charlotte Norris finished with a 113 (+41), tying for 25th.
Chiles’ remaining golfers were Ava Collier, who shot a 116 (+44) to tie for 29th, and Audrey Benford, who finished with a 139 (+67) in 38th.
Despite Baker Wright’s strong round and Mathis’ top-six finish, Chiles finished 49 strokes behind second-place Pace.
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