- April 28, 2024
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Matanzas golfer Alexandra Gazzoli watches her shot on Sept. 7 at Palm Harbor Golf Club. Photo by Brent Woronoff
FPC's Carmella Carlisi watches her shot. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Matanzas golfer Bianca Sherman tees off at Palm Harbor Golf Club on Sept. 7. Photo by Brent Woronoff
FPC's Carmella Carlisi tees off. Photo by Brent Woronoff
FPC's Carmella Carlisi tees off. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Carmella Carlisi hits out of the rough. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Alexandra Gazzoli watches her shot. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Bianca Sherman hits out of the rough. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Carmella Carlisi, right, and Bianca Sherman on the putting green. Photo by Brent Woronoff
With three holes to go, Flagler Palm Coast’s Camella Carlisi and Matanzas’ Alexandra Gazzoli were tied at 2-under.
But keeping pace with Gazzoli, the Florida Women’s Amateur Stroke Play champion and the defending Class 2A state high school champ, is not easy.
Gazzoli, who will play golf at Florida State University next year, shot a 4-under 32 to lead the Pirates to victory over the Bulldogs at Palm Harbor Golf Club on Sept. 7.
Carlisi shot a 2-over 38. Her highlight of the day was an eagle on the par-4 No. 5 hole.
I tapped it in for eagle. It was a pretty straight putt. So, it was pretty cool. I felt like Happy Gilmore. I hit it in one.”
— CARMELLA CARLISI
“It was like 240 yards. With the wind in my face, I took my 3 wood and I just got my hands nice and high and hit it right at the flag. We walked up and I was like 6 feet away,” she said. “I tapped it in for eagle. It was a pretty straight putt. So, it was pretty cool. I felt like Happy Gilmore. I hit it in one.”
She also had an eagle putt on the par-5 No. 3, but she wound up 3-putting for par. Carlisi was two strokes behind Gazzoli going into the par-4 No. 1, which was their final hole. But while Gazzoli birdied, Carlisi finished with a triple bogey.
“Other than that, I was hitting pretty well,” she said.
Gazzoli had four birdies on Nos. 3, 7, 8 and 1 and no bogeys.
Her 32 wasn’t her best nine-hole round at Palm Harbor, but it was close.
“I think I shot a 31,” she said. “I could have done better. The greens aren't in the best condition, so maybe if they were better, another putt or two might have gone in, but I think I did good overall.”
Playing without No. 2 golfer Zoe Alred, Matanzas defeated FPC 185 to 247. Matanzas’ other top scorers were Ana Heartz (47), Arianna Rodriguez (51), Bianca Sherman (55) and Sara-Kate Vannucci (57). Madison Heck shot 58 for the Bulldogs.
The Pirates improved to 2-1 while FPC was playing in its first match. Carlisi rejoined her former teammates after spending last year in San Diego, honing her game at Torrey Pines Golf Course.
“I'm excited for this season,” she said. “It's going to be fun. I have a lot of built-in friends on the team.”
Matanzas’ only loss came to Seabreeze on Aug. 29 at Riviera Country Club. The Sandcrabs and Pirates meet again on Thursday, Sept. 14, at Palm Harbor.
