LAKELAND — It all started in Quebec, Canada, for McKeel sophomore golfer Leonie Tavares. And now a huge part of the journey was winning the 2025 Polk County Championship Monday at the Cleveland Heights Golf Course.
Tavares was first with a 71, while her teammate, sophomore golfer George Grace Spence, was second (75). The following eight rounded out the top 10: Lakeland junior Elizabeth Hall (second, 75), Frostproof sophomore Hannah Castillo (second, 75), McKeel sophomore Diya Kavalackal (fifth, 76), Winter Haven freshman Danica Becker (sixth, 77), Lakeland Christian senior Taylor Logan (seventh, 82), McKeel senior Caroline Dekalb (eighth, 84), Lakeland senior Madison Templeton (eighth, 84) and Lakeland Christian senior Annsley Greene (10th, 85).
Team-wise, McKeel placed first as a team with a 306, while Frostproof (345), Lakeland Christian (362), Winter Haven (447), Geroge Jenkins (472), Bartow (479), Auburndale (501) and Mulberry (570) rounded out the top 10.
Still, placing first amongst the best in the county is a huge feat, especially since there was a huge disparity when it comes to how she finished this year compared to last year.
“I was very prepared with my game. I knew where my shots were going to land at the green. I knew how to play short from the pin. (It was just about not making) any mistakes with my driver and just play from the middle of the green. So, it was a lot, but better than last year … for sure.”
It was better because Tavares used a strong driver on soft greens, which made the competition much more smooth.
But the road to playing smooth golf started at 5 years old for Tavares, who hearkened back to her Quebec days when her and her family played golf numerous times at a golf course that her grandfather owned. And it was her grandfather, a very good player himself, who taught her how to hit her first shot.
In a sequence of events, she is now a part of a McKeel team that has won a fifth county title in McKeel head coach’s Jeremy Bohnenstiehl’s tenure.
“…These girls were ready. … It kind of started from the top and went all the way down to the No. 4 player,” Bohnenstiehl said.
Kavalackal started 3-under and eventually executed well enough to find her at 3-over. What helped her was racking up three birdies on Course A, which helped her place the highest she’s ever finished in county.
For her teammate, Georgia Spence, she began executing bogeys before shaping up and hitting some birdies to culminate 3-over, which helped her end the day at second — her highest mark ever.
“…My most important moments (were) my recovery shots definitely. I was able to execute them, and that helped me finish,” Georgia Spence said.
Castillo wins county
Meanshile, Frostproof eighth-grader Jordan Castillo ended up winning county thanks to his 72.
Other Polk County golfers who finished in the top 10: Winter Haven sophomore Tyler Loftus (second, 74), All Saints junior Barrett Green (third, 75), Lakeland Christian eighth-grader Jackson Helm (fourth, 76), All Saints sophomore Alex Kruschwitz (fourth, 76), George Jenkins junior Andrew Sagnella (sixth, 77), All Saints eighth-grader Madden Hahn (sixth, 77), Lakeland Christian sophomore Parker Marshall (eighth, 78), Bartow junior Porter Yates (eighth, 78) and Auburndale junior Gradyn Grabowski (eighth, 78).
“We’ve all been working hard, the team, everyone. The coaches have been pushing us. Hannah (Castillo) has been pushing me. (It’s) just been a lot of practice for this,” Castillo said.
Winter Haven’s Loftus was practicing a lot as well, so much so that he ended up coming in second for the third straight year.
“I was playing OK all day. But I just had one double, and it kind of screwed me over. I just couldn’t make putts all day. I was hitting the driver good. The irons good. I just couldn’t make a putt,” Loftus said.
All Saints ended up winning the team championship for the first time in All Saints head coach Brad Kruschwitz’s five-year tenure thanks to a 310. Rounding out the top 10: Frostproof (second, 314), Winter Haven (third, 315), George Jenkins (fourth, 324), Lakeland Christian (fifth, 326), Auburndale (sixth, 329), McKeel (seventh, 338), Bartow (eighth, 339), Lakeland (ninth, 341) and Santa Fe Catholic (10th, 357).
“It feels good. But the kids deserve all the credit. They put in the work every day. They come ready to play. We had fall break the last week, so the kids were out here every day working, and that’s by choice not because I told them they had to, so they deserve all the credit,” Kruschwitz said.
Green is one of those players who deserves the credit, too. For him, it was all about consistent driving on the greens all day long, which led to his highest place ever in his county play.
“I think our team has definitely been the strongest it has been in a while. We’re working hard, showing up to practice, which is all great,” Green said.
All these county golfers will be gearing up for districts in two weeks.
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This article originally appeared on The Ledger: McKeel girls, All Saints boys win 2025 Polk County Golf Championship
Reporting by Robert Magobet, Lakeland Ledger / The Ledger
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
