After coming exceptionally close to winning districts last year, the Palmer Trinity varsity golf team came back this year to make school history as the first PTS golf team ever to win the District 24-1A title.
The Falcons soared in the district championship following the lead of their tremendous captain, senior Jackson Fox. In 2013, Fox won the individual title at the FHSAA District 24 Golf Championship, scoring a three-over 74. He closed out his high school district-level career by posting birdies on three of his final four holes to earn his second consecutive individual district title with a school record round of one-under-par 70.
Junior Jack Fumagalli continued his amazing play by placing third in the tournament for the second year in a row, with a three-over-par round of 74. Fumagalli, who transferred to Palmer Trinity last season after moving from Naples, is a “godsend,” according to head coach Jeff Rose. He said that despite Fumagalli’s stoic and modest demeanor, he is a true competitor and a great asset to the squad. Senior Daniel Abdelnour also placed high in the individual standings by posting a strong round of 83.
“If you ask me who has the best all-around game, it’s not even close. It’s Daniel Abdelnour,” Rose said. “He hits it as long as everybody, he’s probably the most accurate long iron player we have, and he definitely is the best wedge player we have.”
Playing in his first district tournament, junior Cooper Devine followed closely with a strong round of 84 to round out the Falcon team scoring.
Junior Mike Gravier also posted a round of 85, helping the team to reach a total score of 311 to break another Palmer Trinity School record.
Coach Rose said he believes that it was the “us against all others” mentality that really elevated the team this year. “We supported each other every day in all that we did and everyone was treated as an equal regardless of age or length of service to the program.”
The Falcons ended their season placing sixth overall during regional finals.
“Next year we return with five of our eight team members, so we will enter the season with even greater expectations,” Ros said. “We intend to defend our district title and become the first Palmer Trinity School golf team to qualify for the state tournament.”
For information about the school, visit www.palmertrinity.org.
