The Ponte Vedra High girl’s golf team has established itself in recent years as one of the premier teams throughout the state of Florida, and the team has done so with team unity and a community bond.
Clint Finlay enters his fourth season as head coach and has been at the forefront of Ponte Vedra’s rapid ascension over the last three years.
“We’re brought up in a golf climate here in Ponte Vedra,” Finlay says. “It was only natural that, at some point, the golf mecca was going to filter in to some of the younger players that would eventually make their way to the high school team. We’re seeing the benefits of that.”
It was not long after taking over as head coach that Finlay began to see the mindset of the team change. The Sharks won the district and regionals his first year and allowed that momentum to carry on.
“I always knew that I wanted to be associated with the golf team, whether it was the girls or the boys,” Finlay says. “We didn’t lose my first season until midway through. We began to get the idea that we’re not just good, but ahead of everybody else.”
Confidence is evident and flows throughout the entire program. Feeding this confidence is the chemistry and cohesion that is shared and felt from Finlay all the way down to the incoming freshmen.
“What amazes me about the team is that our more skilled players don’t mind taking time out from their own practice to help some of the beginners,” Finlay says. “The fact that I can trust the more experienced players is something that you don’t necessarily get with every team.”
Senior captain Hannah Berman is in charge of making sure the team bond remains strong. She has embraced the role with her skills on the course and generosity within the community.
“The idea that you can use golf to branch out and help in other areas inspires the other girls to be more active,” Finlay says.
Berman has followed in the footsteps of other great Ponte Vedra players who have shined in leadership roles, most notably Nicolette Donovan, who won the 2013 state championship and currently plays at Virginia Tech.
“I remember Nicolette when she first came here; you could see that her effort and work were not typical of a high school golfer,” Finlay said. “Hannah is very similar in that way.”
One of the most crucial tools that helps develop a closely knit squad are the lengthy van rides during road trips to various tournaments throughout the state.
“Even though it’s a cramped environment, it breeds a lot of team chemistry because it’s where the girls interact,” Finlay says. “Some of the most memorable moments over the last three years have come from those trips.”
Midway through his second season as head coach, Finlay realized that branching out was a necessary adjustment to the schedule if Ponte Vedra was to maintain its upward trend as a yearly contender within the state.
“Every school goes to the district tournament, which is where you start advancing,” Finlay said. “We have to go outside the box so that it’s not a shock once they get to the upper-level tournaments.”
A major shakeup to the schedule this season is the absence of Bartram Trail from district play; the Sharks had finished second to them in the last couple of years. The teams will still play in the regular season, but they will no longer continue their annual postseason battle.
Potne Vedra has seen a steady growth in roster size over the past several years and will open this season with 13 golfers, including five freshmen.
“If we’re not the best in the region, we’re certainly in the discussion,” Finlay says. “We’ve never finished out of the top two in the district or regional tournaments. Success breeds attraction, and this is the largest team that we’ve ever had.”
Berman is the top scorer, followed by Sophie Membrino, who flourished during her freshman season. Junior Sara McKevitt ranks third on the team and has made a lot of strides, while senior Theresa Irwin is on the cusp of becoming a member of the postseason team.
“We’ve been fortunate enough to have a good feeder program from Landrum Middle School and have also had a few people move into the area that were talented,” Finlay said. “We have not lost the entire core at any one point.”
The expectations have been set by the recent championship success, and the future players make it their mission to continue that winning tradition. This is the foundation that the Ponte Vedra girl’s golf program has been built upon.
