All-Area Golf: Clancy Waugh and Mary Janiga win Player of the Year honors

Thursday, January 10, 2013
by Zack Duarte

BOYS GOLFER OF THE YEAR

CLANCY WAUGH, BENJAMIN, SENIOR

Having just shot the day's best round by a male golfer at the State Class 1A golf championships, a discouraging thought occurred to Clancy Waugh: His seven-year tenure on the Benjamin golf team was over.

"It was surreal," said Waugh, who shot a 1-over-par 73. "I knew it was my last time playing high school golf. I've been with the same coach for seven years. I had been to the state championship for seven years. I got better as the year went on, but I said to myself, 'Why leave anything out there?' and I just let it all go."

Waugh helped the Buccaneers finish third in the team standings, completing the individual tournament with a 7-over par 78-73-151, good enough for second place.

"It was great to finish strong like we did," Waugh said.

Waugh began playing for Benjamin golf coach Toby Harbeck more than seven years ago.

"That's the only player that's ever played for me for seven years," said Harbeck, Benjamin's coach for 29 years. "I watched a little kid grow into a young man."

Aside from the state tournament, Waugh won the Honda Classic High School Invitational last year at PGA National and also competed in the Williamson Cup in Delaware. He played in the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship last July, narrowly missing match play.

Waugh, who has a putting hole in his room at home, will continue playing golf next season after signing a letter of intent with Wake Forest in November.

"My definite plans are to play golf as my career," he said.

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BOYS FIRST TEAM

Johnny Newnham, St. Andrew's, Sr.

Shot 72-81-153 at state, tying for fifth. Also tied for fifth at regionals.

Ethan Marcus, St. Andrew's, Jr.

Won district (69) and regionals (69). Shot 79 in second round of district to finish 41st.

Josh August, Park Vista, So.

Shot 76 in second round of state, tying for 32nd among individuals. Won district title (70); was eighth at regionals (77).

Ryan Jahn, Benjamin, Sr.

Won district title with a 70. Tied for 19th at state after shooting 77-81-158.

Gage Marino, Jupiter Christian, So.

Shot a 70 at regionals.

Connor O'Rourke, Jupiter, Sr.

Shot a final-round 71 at state, tying for 43rd.

Coach of the Year

Toby Harbeck, Benjamin

Led the Buccaneers to a third-place finish at state.

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BOYS SECOND TEAM

Ryan Lynch, Park Vista, Jr.

Ryan Mason, Park Vista, So.

Mackenzie Edwards, Jupiter, Jr.

Jalen Ledger, Benjamin, So.

Andrew Chambers, Boca Raton, Sr.

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BOYS HONORABLE MENTION

St. Andrew's: Michael Wilhelm, Mike Boylan; Jupiter: Kyle Napieralski; Cardinal Newman: Michael Conforti; West Boca Raton: Tyler Segal, Shane Donaghy, Suncoast: Shannon Boner.

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GIRLS GOLFER OF THE YEAR

MARY JANIGA, AMERICAN HERITAGE, SOPHOMORE

In the middle of her sophomore season at American Heritage, Mary Janiga decided to make a small change in her approach.

"I changed my putting grip," Janiga said. "I switched to a cross-hand. My coaches said if I went at it with an open mind and felt comfortable, it would help keep my stroke more fluid."

After a disappointing first-round 81 at the state tournament, Janiga caught fire.

"I was hoping to shoot four or five strokes better the next day," she said.

Instead, Janiga posted the best round of the tournament by either a boy or a girl with a 4-under-par 68 to finish 81-68-149, just four shots out of first. Her previous low score for a round was 71.

"My putting was incredible, and it came out of nowhere, really. I couldn't believe what was happening," Janiga said. "I kept practicing after changing my grip, but I was shocked. I was making almost everything."

Janiga won two top junior tournaments, a South Florida PGA Junior event and the Palm Beach County JGA Nicklaus Junior Championship last year. The Stallions won the district tournament and with an impressive showing by Janiga, finished fifth in the state Class 1A team standings.

"Golf is my life," Janiga said. "I practice five times a week. I don't know what I would do without it."

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GIRLS FIRST TEAM

Ashley Burke, American Heritage, Sr.

Finished eighth at regionals (77) and 26th at state (82-78-160).

Marissa Kay, St. Andrew's, Sr.

Finished second at regionals (72) and tied for 12th at state (79-75-154).

Alexa Popowitz, St. Andrew's, So.

Shot 79-78-157 at state, tying for 19th and helping the Scots finish sixth as a team.

Caroline Araskog, Benjamin, Jr.

Won the Class 1A district title, then tied for 35th at state (80-83-163).

Radi Sauro, Santaluces, Jr.

Tied for second in regionals (75) and sixth at state (79-74-153).

Alexa Hammer, American Heritage, So.

Tied for 29th at state (81-80-161).

COACH OF THE YEAR

Donna Serino, American Heritage

Led the Stallion girls to a fifth-place finish at state.

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GIRLS SECOND TEAM

Alexandra Papell, West Boca Raton, Sr.

Katelin Glass, Park Vista, Sr.

Samantha Coleman, Park Vista, Sr.

Melissa Epling, American Heritage, Sr.

Shyanne Lovan, American Heritage, Fr.

Ashley Turnquest, Seminole Ridge, Sr.

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GIRLS HONORABLE MENTION

St. Andrew's: Casey Farmer, Pinja Ryhanen; Park Vista: Tracy Peyton; Seminole Ridge: Summer Young; Benjamin: Reagan Jahn.

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GIRLS BEST OF THE TREASURE COAST

Jensen Beach: Bettina Almeida, Lucy Robson, Emily Faulkner, Courtney Long; Lincoln Park Academy: Brittany LaPadula.

BOYS BEST OF THE TREASURE COAST

Lincoln Park Academy: Jeremy Feil, Tyler Boltersdorf; Community Christian: Matt Lindahl; Morningside Academy: Huroyuki Ukigaya; Martin County: Dominick Vennari.