- November 22, 2024
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The Palm Coast Cup doesn't actually have a cup, or a trophy yet, but it does have a streak.
Matanzas defeated Flagler Palm Coast for the second year in a row in the co-ed golf match Thursday, Oct. 20 at Palm Harbor Golf Club. The tourney began last year as the golf teams' answer to football's Potato Bowl.
The match not only concludes the regular season with a friendly rivalry among the two Flagler County high schools, but it pairs the boys and girls golfers together. Throughout the season, they play and train separately.
"It's really a fun match," FPC girls coach Jen DeWeese. "A lot of the kids (from the two schools) know each other. And it's the first time our girls and boys come together."
With only three healthy golfers available on FPC's girls team, the tourney was limited to three groups, but all of the FPC and Matanzas golfers got to play. Afterward, the teams had dinner together.
The tourney was played with co-ed pairings in a match-play, scramble format. Matanzas won 3-0. In the first group, Matanzas' Alexandra Gazzoli and Ashtin Arlaud edged FPC's Madison Heck and Wynter Dodson by one hole.
In group two, Matanzas' Zoe Alred and Alek Libby topped FPC's Elijah Thero and Katarina Becker by four holes. And in the third group, Matanzas' Emma Markese and Trevor Challice won all eight holes over FPC's Sienna Van Baleen and Zach Soras with the ninth hole canceled because of darkness.
"I think our kids really enjoy it. It adds community spirit and allows them to play a different format."
— BRANDIE ALRED, Matanzas girls golf coach
"I think our kids really enjoy it," Matanzas girls coach Brandie Alred said. "It adds community spirit and allows them to play a different format. There's pressure, but it's a fun pressure."
Alred said the four coaches decided to have a rotating trophy beginning next season.