The District 2A-21 boys golf tournament on Monday was another day for Estero sophomore Luke Farmer to shine.
Farmer was the medalist in the tournament, assuring himself a place in the region tournament by shooting a 70 in leading the Wildcats to a third-place finish overall.
One week after winning the Lee County Athletic Conference title, Farmer was hot on the back nine at Stoneybrook Golf Club, shooting a 2-under par 33.
Estero
“Everything is clicking right now for Luke with his golf game,” said Estero coach Mike Claman. “He’s peaking at the right time, of course. Everything with him from tee to green is good. He’s struggled with his wedge, but today he hit the wedge well.”
It was the third straight round at 70 for Farmer.
Farmer also won the Crutchfield/Hawkins Invitational last month in Sebring. Over the summer, he’d also triumphed in the Nolan Henke-Patty Berg Junior Masters.
Barron Collier won the meet with a team score 323. Naples was runner-up and Estero came in third.
The top three teams and top three individuals not on a qualifying team move on to the region meet next Monday at Port Charlotte Golf Club.
Raymond Couch and Mike Duffy have also qualified for the region as well as Lely golfer Evan Meredith.
East Lee County senior Matt Horrom shot 92 and missed qualifying by one stroke.
“As soon as I saw my score on the scoreboard, right away I thought to myself, ‘What could I have done to shoot one stroke lower?,'” Horrom said. “There were actually a lot of things I could’ve done differently. But I’m happy with my score, and I was glad it was my last score ever in high school.”
Farmer had 10 pars and five birdies on the day and was 2-under par, the only player in red numbers for the tournament.
“The wind was the biggest challenge here,” said Farmer of the 6,135-yard par-72 track. “You definitely had to take extra club when hitting into the wind, you know?
“I struggled on the first few holes today to get warmed up,” Farmer said. “I hit my irons well all day, and putted well.”
Farmer’s favorite hole of the day was No. 11, which begins a four-hole stretch known locally as “Talon’s Grip”. Farmer had a grip on No. 11, hitting an approach shot from 157 yards to about a foot from the pin en route to an easy birdie.
“He believes in himself, and has a lot of confidence in his game,” Claman said. “He doesn’t let anything get to him.”
District 2A-21 boys golf tournament
At Stoneybrook Golf Club, par 72
Barron Collier 323, Naples 341, Estero 347, Golden Gate 393, Lely 398, East Lee County 466, Palmetto Ridge 479, Immokalee 557.
Estero: Luke Farmer 70, Aaron Puckett 83, Landon Fiore 95, Jackson Payne 99.
East Lee County: Jarrett Smith 95, Matthew Horrom 92, Hunter Hamilton 148, Caleb Saez 131.
