FALL ALL-AREA: Columbia's Connor Williams repeats as LCR's Boys Golfer of the Year

Connor Williams vividly remembers the 10th hole at the Region 1-2A tournament.

The wind was blowing 15 mph. The temperature was in the 50s. He had about a 40-yard pitch for birdie, with a bunker staring at him in front of the green and a pool of water behind the pin.

Fearing none of it, Williams took his shot. And it was perfect.

“I just landed it right over the bunker and it rolled up right into the hole for birdie,” Williams said. “That was a really nice memory.”

He’d have a few more too.

Williams went on to take the regional crown, winning the tournament by two strokes with a 2-under-70. It was the highlight of an impressive campaign for the Southeastern signee, who posted an area-best 36.2 nine-hole average, won the Ann/John Ives Alachua County Championships, was runner-up at districts, and had a career-best 20th-place finish at state.

Now, he’s also the Lake City Reporter’s Boys Golfer of the Year for the second straight season.

“I think I was pretty consistent throughout the season,” Williams said. “I had a good start and I just tried to keep that going. It could’ve been a little bit better toward the end, but I made it to state, so that’s a positive whether you play good or not.”

Williams’ round at regionals was redemption for a year prior when he missed two putts on the final two holes that led to a runner-up finish. This season, Williams made a putt for par on 17 before sinking a birdie on the final hole that sent him to the clubhouse as the sole leader, and eventually, the champion.

It was a round which Columbia head coach Sherman Reed characterized as the best of Williams’ Columbia career, considering the conditions.

“It was pretty much a flawless round,” Reed said. “It was a nasty day. The wind was probably blowing 15-25 (miles per hour) out of the north, it was cold, and before he even teed off, I asked Connor, ‘what’s you gameplan today?’ He said, ‘well, with this weather coach, half the field is going to play themselves out of it because they don’t know how to play in wind. My goal is, I just want to hit fairways and greens, two putt and shoot around even par.’

“He’s a 17-year-old young man, but he has the mentality of a 30-year-old golfer. He predicts everything.”

The victory also made up for a week earlier when Williams lost a one-hole playoff at the District 2-2A tournament on Monday at the Country Club of Lake City. After carding a 2-under-70 through 18 holes, Williams made a bogey on the playoff hole to come in second place behind champion Brock Buhnerkemper from Orange Park.

That didn’t sit well with Williams.

“I felt pretty embarrassed that I had lost that playoff hole in front of my team and at my home course,” Williams said. “So, to go into an even bigger field (at regionals) in tougher conditions and to beat the guy that had beat me in the playoff a week before, that was a really nice feeling.

“It was pretty solid, a pretty nice memory, especially that drive back home with the medal. That was really sweet.”

Williams was hoping to turn the momentum of the regional championship into a state title, but he opened the Class 2A state tournament with a 79 in the first round before following it up with a 77 a day later to finish 12-over and 11 strokes back of the champion.

But while his 20th-place finish was the best of his career, Williams vowed to improve his game.

“I think at state he did not putt well,” Reed said, “and in typical Connor fashion he just said, ‘you know, it’s just golf. I’ll get better. I’ll make adjustments.’ His work ethic is just amazing, just absolutely amazing. He has a set routine he goes through every day, and he does not deter from it at all.”

Williams was a state qualifier in all four seasons at Columbia, and each year he improved his standing. After placing 82nd as a freshman, Williams came back to finish 52nd as a sophomore and 43rd as a junior before placing 20th this fall.

That’s a testament to Williams’ work ethic, which Reed says has stood out his entire career. His constant drive to improve helped him land his scholarship at Southeastern and it’ll be the reason he’s remembered as one of the best golfers in program history.

“I think it’s definitely a nice thing to leave saying we had one of our guys go to state all four years,” Williams said. “If you get to go to state one year, that’s a pretty good job because it’s only the top players in the state. And to be able to say that one of our guys went four years is definitely something nice to remember.”

 

ALL-AREA TEAM

Connor Williams

Columbia, senior

The LCR’s Boys Golfer of the Year for the second straight season had an area-best 36.2 nine-hole average in a season where placed an area-best 20th at state, won the Region 1-2A title with a 2-under-70, and was runner-up at the District 2-2A tournament with a 2-under-70 after losing a one-hole playoff. The Southeastern signee also won the Ann/John Ives Alachua County Championships by six strokes with a 1-under 69 and also shot a 1-under 70 that was three strokes off the lead to finish tied for 10th at the Randy Warren Invitational.

Trey Galbraith

Lafayette, senior

Led the Hornets with a 38.8 nine-hole average, tied for second at the District 3-1A tournament with a 76 to help the team place third for a regional berth, and finished fifth at the Region 1-1A tournament with a 74. Posted a two-round 178 at the Class 1A state tournament to tie for 92nd.

Dawson Wooley

Suwannee, freshman 

Led the Bulldogs with a 39.9 nine-hole average and had team-best finishes at the District 2-2A tournament (tying for third with a 75) and at the Class 2A state tournament (tying for 39th with a two-round 161). Tied for 28th at the Region 1-2A tournament with an 84.

Ty Hurst

Suwannee, freshman

Had a 40.2 nine-hole average, placed fifth at the District 2-2A tournament with a 76 and tied for 28th at Region 1-2A tournament with an 84. Shot a two-round 169 to place 65th at the Class 2A state tournament. 

Mason Cameron

Suwannee, senior

Had a 41.6 nine-hole average and shot a team-best 77 to place sixth at the Region 1-2A tournament after tying for 12th with an 83 at the District 2-2A tournament. Carded a two-round 184 to place 90th at the Class 2A state tournament.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Damon Wooley, Suwannee

Led the Bulldogs to the District 2-2A title — their first since 2018 — and a third-place finish in Region 1-2A for a berth in the Class 2A state tournament, where they finished 14th.

HONORABLE MENTION: Suwannee: William Slaughter; Branford: Gavin Barnes; Columbia: Valin Capen, Aydn Petit, Trenton Kirby