Stage is set for intense rivalries in First Coast high school golf

Is this the year the Ponte Vedra High boys golf team gets back on top?

If they do, the Sharks will have to go through two other Class 3A St. Johns County teams, Tocoi Creek and Beachside.

The Sharks, who won seven consecutive state titles in two classifications from 2017-2023, have finished third and tied for 12th in the last two Class 3A state tournaments. But they return three seniors from last year's team, have two transfers who could help and currently have a team that could go 10-deep for coach Mickey Leapley.

"We got depth," Leapley said. "I can only play five at a time, so a lot can happen before the district tournament. We're going to get tested so many times within our own county by Tocoi Creek and Beachside and the [3A] state tournament could

be the three of us going at it again."

Ambrose Kinnare of Saint Augustine, Fla. tees off on the fifth hole during the first round of The Junior Players Championship golf tournament at TPC Sawgrass, Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

Leapley is giving his players enough opportunities to prove themselves before the FHSAA postseason begins. The Sharks will play four 36-hole tournaments and nine 18-hole tournaments, and only three of the traditional nine-hole high school matches. It's the maximum number of events they can play so there will be enough starts for everyone.

Two girls teams lead way, each with star player

The First Coast girls' season is shaping up to be a three-month battle between Bolles and Episcopal and within that dynamic, an individual rivalry between seniors Chloe McGrath of Bolles and Sahana Chokshi of Episcopal that began in earnest last year when the two were co-medalists in the District 4-1A (both shot 71) and Region 1-1A tournaments (68).

Chokshi shot 4-under 140 and finished eighth in the state tournament and McGrath was even-par 144 and tied for 15th.

They're already going at it: In their first dual match, McGrath shot 68 and Chokshi 69 at Timuquana as Bolles beat Episcopal by 20 shots.

Five First Coast boys teams to watch

Ponte Vedra: Seniors Jake Mason (who has committed to play with his brother at Flagler), James Nagle (headed for South Florida) and Ellis Masotti return from last year's team, along with three juniors pushing for playing time, Jude Johnson, Maxwell Morgan and Carson Tidwell. Ponte Vedra's wealth of riches increased with senior Ryder Averdick coming from St. Augustine and freshman Beck Patrick from Texas.

Tocoi Creek: The Toros could have the most talented starting five in the area, led by junior Ambrose Kinnare, who had a sizzling spring and summer in junior and amateur events. Junior Brady Dougan, seniors Gavin Daino and Hunter Burke and sophomore Kaden James will be a tough out in any tournament.

Beachside: The loss of Jonah Nacional might be equalized with his cousin, junior Jaden Nacional. No. 1 player Jaspreet Kondal issued an opening salvo with a 62 at the Ponte Vedra Club Lagoon Course to lead the Barracudas to victory in the Back to School Tournament, and there's further experience with senior Samuel Ha and sophomore Christopher Grota.

Providence: The Stallions are the most loaded 1A team on the First Coast, led by seniors Alexander Stewart and Ethan Grossman and sophomores Jack Cole, Keelan Jackson and Gavin Ring.

St. Johns Country Day: The Spartans will be an intriguing team to watch in 1A with the addition of senior William McCready, a transfer from Fleming Island, to go with Junior Beckham Cummings and freshman Fletcher Cummings.

Other individuals to watch: Rafale de Carvalho, sophomore, Nease; Aubrey Fellows, senior, Episcopal; Colson Hale, senior, Fernandina Beach; Charlie Hipp, senior, Creekside; Bennett LaConte, sophomore, Bolles; Jake Mergo, senior, Fletcher; Michael Rattigan, senior, Wolfson; Brody Tran, senior, Episcopal; Dylan Tran, junior, Episocpal; Nico Vasto, junior, Bolles; Brendan Walrath, junior, Bolles; Will Wiggins, senior, West Nassau.

Five First Coast girls teams to watch

Bolles: McGrath, who has committed to play at William & Mary, is first in the state individually, regardless of class, in the early iWanamaker index. Fellow senior Grace Breffitt and sophomore Riley Powell add experience, and eighth-grader Chloe Pierce has posted some attention-getting scores, such as winning a Florida Junior Tour event, then shooting 3-under 33 at Glen Kernan to lead the Bulldogs to a dual-match victory over Beachside.

Senior Chloe McGrath of Bolles was the co-medalist in district and regional tournaments last year and won the Bulldogs' first 18-hole tournament of the 2026 season with a 68 at the Timuquana Country Club.

Episcopal: Chokshi, who has committed to Vanderbilt, will battle McGrath step-for-step all season and has posted two consecutive top-10 finishes in the 1A state tournament. Her sister, freshman Simryn Chokshi, is the clear No. 2 player but the Eagles need to build some depth as the season goes on.

Beachside: The 2024 Class 2A state champions in only the school's second year is rebuilding with former Nease star Monique Gesualdi as their coach. Class 3A individual champion Sofia Rivera, an Indiana commit, is opting out of high school golf as a senior, leaving senior Alexia Iordonov and sophomore Olivia Connell as the most experienced players. Watch out for freshman Lily Wachter, who has been punching above her weight class since winning Augusta National's Drive, Chip and Putt contest in 2024. She's won five FJT events and posted 17 top-10s in the last three years. And, by the way, she beat Rivera and Chokshi in the Junior PGA in July.

Ponte Vedra: The Sharks had a nice run with Nancy Cox (Oklahoma) and Stella Moritz (Richmond). Senior Kennedy Hronek and junior Nina Santiago have the experience but Nos. 3-5 in the lineup are works in progress.

Sahana Chokshi of Jacksonville, a rising junior at Episcopal, played in the U.S. Women's Four-Ball Championship with Sofia Rivera of St. Augustine. They came one stroke away from making match play.

Nease: The Panthers have a strong returning first four, led by sophomore Hazel Peters, junior Chloe Frank and seniors Lexy and Laney Siebert.

Other individuals to watch: Shayla Abbas, senior, Fleming Island; Estrella Bauer, senior Lake City Columbia; Aspen Bikowski, senior, Bartram Trail; Lily Chiang, junior, Stanton; Honor Donaldson, freshman, Providence; Rayna Hardin, Lake City Columbia, senior; Leighton Lanier, sophomore, Bartram Trail; Sophia Moody, sophomore, Fleming Island; Akery Paing, sophomore, Wolfson; Elle Reisner, Fernandina Beach, senior; Sarah Beth Walters, senior, Creekside; Sadie Zahner, senior, Bishop Kenny.