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No Team? No Problem For Dunedin's Knox

Only Girls Golfer For Falcons Now A District Champ

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By Eric Horchy | The Suncoast News

Published: October 23, 2009

DUNEDIN - To the average weekend hacker, golf is largely an individual sport. One score is all that matters – theirs.

That's not always the case at the high school level. Boys and girls teams shoot for district, regional and state championships based on the cumulative score of their top four performers.

So what happens when a school doesn't even field four golfers onto the course? Or, in the case of Dunedin girls golf, when only one, lone teen is out swinging the clubs?

That has been Falcons junior Justine Knox's situation all season. But while she may not have any like-attired teammates to confide in during rounds, Knox has made sure Dunedin golf is more than aptly represented.

Nothing displayed that better than her performance during Monday's Class 2A, District 12 championships at Meadow Oaks Golf Club in Hudson. Knox fired a season and high school career-low 4-under 66 to top all others by three strokes.

At times, having a few partners out there walking the course by her side might be a welcomed change, Knox said, especially during championship rounds.

"When it starts to get to this point, I kind of wish I was on a girls team. It's a team sport so you want to get out there with a bunch of people. It gets a little lonely."

But in regards to certain aspects, maybe it's not all bad.

"There's definitely not as much drama," she joked.

Although Knox has no choice but to go it alone in terms of the postseason, she does get to contribute in team play with the guys during the regular season.

Dunedin golf coach Richard Edmonds said Knox has always been a welcome addition during the year to a Falcons boys team that's been one of the area's best of late.

"Over the past couple seasons she's helped us win two championships," he said, referring to Dunedin's 2007 and 2008 Pinellas County Athletic Conference championships.

"So she does get to play the team aspect with the boys, but she just puts it into another gear when it's against the girls individually. I basically just coach her with the mental game and keeping her in the right mindset. She's a coach's dream."

With a district championship now in her possession – a personal goal this year – Knox has her sights set on a Top 2 finish in regionals that will propel her to the state tournament.

"I really wanted to win districts since I've never done it before, so I was pretty excited about that," she said. "Now I definitely want to get past regionals to get to states."

Only a handful of strokes short during regionals last year, Knox's second chance will come Tuesday afternoon. The Class 2A, Region 4 tourney will tee off at 11 a.m. at Trinity's Heritage Springs Country Club.

Eric Horchy can be reached at 727-815-1071 or ehorchy@suncoastnews.com.

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