Advertisement

This Belen freshman golfer is excelling on high school and junior circuits. NBP sets records

Belen Jesuit freshman golfer Lorenzo Rodriguez is having a really good season on the high school and junior circuits.

A Miami Herald All Dade first team selection last season as an eighth grader, the 14-year-old Rodriguez recently finished second among an elite field of 50 players, age 14-18, to qualify for the second annual Notah Begay III JGNC National Championship.

Only the Top 3 qualified.

Rodriguez shot 1-under 143 (72-71), one shot behind Boyi Zhang of Lake Mary at Mission Inn Resort & Club in Howey-In-The-Hills.

More than 5,000 players nationwide competed for a chance to participate in the Notah Begay III JGNC, which will be broadcast on Golf Channel. They played an 18-hole local qualifier and then a 36-hole regional qualifier.

Rodriguez and 149 other qualifiers will golf on Nov. 13-15 at Koasati Pines at Coushatta in Kinder, Louisiana. Golf Channel will broadcast the event on Dec. 8.

Belen Jesuit golf coach Carlos Rodriguez (also his dad) added: “Lorenzo was named 2021 Player of the Year for The Junior Tour powered by Under Armour after an incredibly impressive feat of finishing in first place in all of the tour’s following events: Fall and Spring League Season, Florida State Championship at World Golf Village, National Southeast Regional Championship at Streamsong, Winter National Championship at IMG Academy, and the Summer National Championship at Disney.”

On the high school level, Rodriguez won a 2A district title on Monday, shooting a 2-under par (69) at Grand Palms Golf & Resort in Pembroke Pines.

Belen Jesuit freshman golfer Lorenzo Rodriguez won a 2A district title.
Belen Jesuit freshman golfer Lorenzo Rodriguez won a 2A district title.

He helped the Wolverines finish second, just two shots behind district team champ Archbishop McCarthy.

Archbishop McCarthy, Belen and third place MAST Academy advance to a 2A regional championship on Nov. 1 at Miccosukee Golf & Country Club in Miami.

Prior, Rodriguez was fifth at 144 at the annual 36-hole South Florida PGA West Tournament at Crown Colony Golf and Country Club in Lee County. He helped Belen place fifth of 10 teams.

Belen set a school record with a team score of 292 (8-over) to finish third of 16 teams at the South Florida PGA East Coast High School Championship at Boca West Country Club in Boca Raton. Rodriguez led the Wolverines at 68 (3-under with five birdies) to tie for second out of 80 golfers.

Rodriguez took runner-up honors during the Maverick Invitational Tournament at Grand Palms Golf Resort (Grand/Sabal Course) in Pembroke Pines.

He fired 1-under 70 for fourth place Belen Jesuit.

At the recent Belen Wolverine Invitational Tournament at Melreese Country Club, he shot 2-over 73 to finish third and help the Wolverines win the team title.

Rodriguez started playing golf at age 4 in the First Tee of Miami program at International Links Miami/Melreese CC.

School records

The North Broward Prep boys’ golf team, coached by Mike Richards, set the 9-hole school scoring record, and junior Sean Richards set the school individual 9-hole record during a win over St. Thomas Aquinas at Fort Lauderdale Country Club.

Richards broke his own record of 33 with a 31. He also holds the school’s 18-hole record at 69. Coach Richards is Sean’s dad.

North Broward Prep 144, St. Thomas Aquinas 150: Junior Sean Richards (NBP) 31; Senior Anthony Trudel (NBP) 36; Freshman Mac Lobdell (NBP) 37; Freshman Cruz Allegianis (NBP) 40; Sophomore Dominic Bossola (NBP) 41; Senior Jacob Paul (NBP) 42.

School record setting North Broward Prep boys’ golf team.
School record setting North Broward Prep boys’ golf team.

More golf

BOYS: Miami Country Day 143, Ransom Everglades 175 at Miami Shores CC (Par 35): Jaden Russell (MCD) 34; Matthew Yamin (MCD) 34; Torrence Mack (MCD) 36; Sam Netkin (MCD) 39; Mihir Pabby (RE) 43; Daniel Mendelson (RE) 43.

Football

Belen Jesuit 42, Miami Sunset 0: Gavench Marcelin (DE) 8 tackles, 1 sack, 4 TFL, 8 pressure, 1 block; Davion Dixon (DT) 6 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 pressure; Jarvis Johnson (DE) 3 tackles, 1 sack, 2 TFL, 1 pressure; Luis Conseugra (DB) 1 tackle, 1 PBU, 2 INT (1 returned for TD); Jancent Wallace (DB) 3 tackles, 2 PBU, 1 INT (1 returned for TD), 1 rec., 2 yards; Khamani Alexander (RB) 13 carries, 114 yards, 1 TD. Bel (6-3).

Miami Northwestern 44, Carol City 6: Tyron Dickens 10-of-16 passing, 137 yards, 1 TD, 7 carries, 100 yards 2 TD; Daverick Jenkins 3 rec, 46 yards 1 TD; Andy Jean 4 rec, 33 yards; Adrian Harris 2 rec, 48 yards; Marlon Cochran 1 rec, 10 yards, 1 carry, 3 yards; Jamari Ford 11 carries, 120 yards, 3 TD; King Davis 4 carries, 25 yards. MNW (7-2).

St. Brendan 35, Palm Glades Academy 6: Trailing 6-0 in the first quarter, the Sabres scored 35 unanswered points. Jaasiel Benitez 33 yd TD pass from Nick Castro (Marco Netto kick); Anthony Gray 1 yd TD run (Marco Netto kick); Alex Lleras 5 yd TD run (Marco Netto kick); Alex Lleras 30 yd TD run (Marco Netto kick); Anthony Gray 46 yd TD run (Marco Netto kick). Lleras 16 carries, 111 yds, 2 TD; Gray 2 carries, 47 yds, 2 TD, 6 tackles, 3 assts, 2 TFL; T.Franklin 4 tackles, 3 assts, 1 sack, 1 TFL; C.Junco 3 tackles, 4 assts, 2 TFL; J.Rivera 2 tackles, 2 assts, 1 sack, 1 TFL. StB (1-7).

True North Classical Academy d. Mater Academy 29-23: Down 15-0 in the first quarter, True North scored 21 unanswered points en route to victory. The defense stopped the Lions on their final drive to seal the win.

The True North Classical Academy football team celebrate a come-from-behind win over Mater Academy.
The True North Classical Academy football team celebrate a come-from-behind win over Mater Academy.

Players of the Game: Josh Reyes (18 carries for 105 yards, 3 TDs, 1 kick return for 40 yards); Jasen (J-Roc) Lopez (6 receptions for 83 yards, 1 TD, 40-yard kick return, clutch 2-point conversion); Joe Lopez (6 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery); Tristian Smith (8 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery); Jake Summer (10 carries for 66 yards; Jorge Cascudo 2 catches for 27 yards, key 4th down conversion with 2 minutes remaining in the game). TN (6-1).