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Vero Beach High School boys’ golf is young and talented
V E R O
B E A C H
N E W S W E E K L Y
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S E P T E M B E R
BY MIKE BIELECKI FOR VERO BEACH NEWSWEEKLY
The Vero Beach High School boys’ golf team is in the very early stages of making a name for themselves along the Treasure Coast. Okay, they aren’t ready for their own shaving cream commercials (heck, most of them don’t need to shave as of yet anyway), but this is possibly the most talented team of prep golfers to come through the Treasure Coast— ever. Led by co-captains, junior Fredrik Gutafsson and freshman Jake Leffew, Vero Beach won Monday’s Okeechobee Invitational over Martin County, John Carroll, Treasure Coast, Sebastian River, and Fort Pierce Central High Schools. Gustafsson’s 73 and Leffew’s 77 were paired with freshman Nick Cammarene’s 74 and sophomore Jordan Payton’s 78 to earn the team victory. Junior Sean Keeby carded an 82 and sophomore Brad Wonka shot an 84, but only the top four scores for each team were taken. “Last year, the team made it to regionals and we missed states by three shots—I shot an 80,” Gustafsson said. “My goal for the team this year is to contend for the state title at the state tournament. For me, I would like to make the All-Treasure coast team and contend for the individual title.” Like most every young, talented ball-striker in Florida, Gustafsson
would like to play Division-I golf for a South Eastern Conference or Atlantic Coast Conference school and eventually play on the PGA Tour. “We have an extremely talented team, and a lot of that talent is young,” Gustafsson said. “Jake Leffew is special for his age, to say the least. He has a great head on his shoulders and is a born leader, and I believe that is why he is a co-captain with me.” While Gustafsson and Leffew are the unquestioned leaders of the team, it is a topic of debate who is actually the most talented golfer on the team. College football prospect and fellow junior Connor Moore shared his opinion. “Fred is the man,” Moore said. “He expects to shoot a 72 or 73 every time out and only gets visibly excited when he breaks 70,” he said of his friend. “But Jake plays beyond his years. And beside, he’s a Leffew—they’re good at everything.” Moore was talking about the freshman’s older sister, Harvard lacrosse star Jenn Leffew, who was a talented student and high school All-American during her time at Vero Beach High School. Point West head PGA golf professional Mark Cammarene, whose son Nick is the team’s other fabulous frosh, offered his professional opinion. “Payton had a real good year last year as a freshman, but Brad might
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have the most talent of anyone out here,” the elder Cammarene said. “He doesn’t have the head and maturity of Jake Leffew, as he’s only been playing competitively for about three years. He was a baseball player who only played a little bit of golf as a child. He’s just starting to learn how to think out there and hit shots, and I only see him getting better and better.” Wonka finished fifth in a Florida Junior Tour event over the summer and placed second in the Sam Parks Invitational in Tampa two weeks ago, where he missed first-place by just a stroke. “He’s almost got a long and lazy swing, kind of like (1992 Masters Champion) Freddie Couples,” Cammarene said. “He’s strong, he hits it 320 off the tee—the ball just jumps right off his club face.” As for Cammarene’s son, Nick, his 74 at Monday’s tournament puts him in the conversation as the team’s most talented golfer (even if the elder Cammarene refuses to play the part of the proud papa).
What is certain, however, is the that Fighting Indians golf will be a team to watch for the next several years—with or without their own commercials.
Freshman Nick Cammarene
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STAFF PHOTOS
Sophomore Payton Taylor
Co-Captain, Junior Fredrik Gustafsson