Buchholz on par for goal

<p>Reaching the FHSAA Class 2A state tournament that begins today at The Country Club at Silver Springs Shores was a common goal expressed by members of the Buchholz boys golf team prior to the season.</p><p>After placing second (302) at the District 4-2A tournament and finishing as the Region 2-2A runner ups (305) last week, the Bobcats achieved their goal. What makes their accomplishment even more special is that this year’s group is the first Buchholz team to qualify for the state tournament since the 2003 club placed third at the Class 2A state event. The 2003 Bobcats were recently named The Gainesville Sun boys golf team of the decade.</p><p>“It is so rewarding, to look at the guys who made it to state in 2003, Bobby Gates, Tyson Alexander and Matt Tribby,” Parker Jones said. “It is so incredible to think of us on that kind of scale to be able to accomplish something to this extreme. We all started out the season with the goal of getting to state.”</p><p>Now that his team has qualified, coach Brian Tribby, in his seventh season with the program, his third as head coach, said he wants his team to challenge for the state championship. While that won’t be an easy task, senior captain Bodi Karsono and junior captain Parker Jones like their chances at the two-day, 36-hole tournament.</p><p>“Winning state is an ultimate goal, but realistically we are a very talented team and if we have a great two days we can pull it out,” said Jones, who shot a 73 to place second at the regional tournament. “It is just a matter of putting it all together.”</p><p>Karsono, who Tribby said is meticulous on the golf course, leads the team with a 36.3 average. Jones, described by Tribby as a free swinger and someone who attacks the course, is next with an average of 37.1. Karsono leads by example, while Jones is more of a vocal leader.</p><p>“I guess I’m a little more quiet than the other guys on the team, I just try and do the right thing all of the time and lead some of the younger kids,” Karsono said. “He (Jones) definitely gets in the face a little more than I do. Together we make some good decisions on the team and lead this team pretty well.”</p><p>A few weeks ago, Buchholz captured its seventh straight and 13th overall team championship at the John and Ann Ives Golf Classic (formerly knows as the Alachua County Tournament). Senior Alex Slaton, who won that rain-shortened a year ago, could be the key for the Bobcats over the next two days. Slaton will be making his third trip to the state tournament as he participated for P.K. Yonge as a sixth-grader and Oak Hall as a seventh-grader. But the fact that Slaton is still able to play golf, makes him appreciate the sport even more.</p><p>“Around Thanksgiving time, I started having back pain,” Slaton said. “I went through a big growth spurt (five inches) and I was hitting a lot of golf balls and started having lower back pain.”</p><p>He thought it might have been growing pains, but a CAT Scan and an MRI revealed that Slaton had a Pars stress fracture in his lower back. He was in a brace for a long period of time and while his back mainly hurt when he tried to play golf, he was finally able to return to the links at the end of August, which forced him to miss a few matches.</p><p>“A lot of kids, when they go through a growth spurt and who plays sports like golf, they will get that (Pars stress fracture),” Slaton said. “It was frustrating and disappointing because I didn’t think I was going to be able to play this year. Mentally I have gotten a lot better because I am just thankful to be out here to play again and compete with these guys.”</p><p>The other members of the team Slaton is able to play with include sophomore Greg Dana (40), senior Elliot Norden (40.3) and freshman Trace Rucarean (40.8), who is the alternate.</p><p>“It is extremely gratifying because of the fact, we’ve got guys who have came together,” said Tribby, who has guided the Bobcats to a 48-12 mark this fall. “We have great chemistry on this team.”</p><p>For Karsono, getting to state is the perfect way to end his prep golf career.</p><p>“This is definitely a dream,” Karsono said. “Looking back on it freshman year, I just couldn’t imagine it turning out any better, just being captain and going to state as a senior.”</p>