Weeks into the golf season, several golfers have already made some noise.
Saint Stephen's Andy Dai has been one of the best this season, shooting the lowest score at the John Sprague Invitational. Last year's Herald-Tribune boys golfer of the year, Eddie Gu, has continued his success, placing third at the John Sprague Invitational with a 72. Natalie Angelo — the 2025 Herald-Tribune girls golfer of the year — has started the season hot, recording two first-place finishes, while placing fourth at the Lady Maverick Invitational. New talent has emerged, with Lakewood Ranch freshmen Gabby Semmerling and Brooke Stevens placing high on leaderboards.
As the golf season continues, the Herald-Tribune is highlighting the talent in Sarasota and Manatee counties.
Here are the top area boys and girls golfers to watch this fall:
Boys Golf
Andy Dai
School: Saint Stephen's
Year: Senior
Highlights: In 2025, Dai was named to the Herald-Tribune's All-Area team. He placed fourth (72) at districts, tied for 11th (74) at regionals and tied for 17th (75, 72) at the 1A state championship. And in 2026, he's been exceptional. Dai shot six under at the John Sprague Invitational, helping Saint Stephen's to a win with the lowest score of the field. Against Sarasota, Dai also shot the lowest score of the field with a 64, pushing Saint Stephen's to a 30-stroke win.
Owen Gellatly
School: Lakewood Ranch
Year: Senior
Highlights: In 2025, Gellatly was named to the Herald-Tribune's All-Area second team. In 2026, Gellatly tied for sixth at the John Sprague Invitational, shooting a 74. At the Titan Invitational, he tied for third, shooting 4-under (139). And at the 2026 John Ryan Invitational, Gellatly tied for 10th, shooting a 74.
Eddie Gu
School: Saint Stephen's
Year: Senior
Highlights: In 2025, Gu was named the Herald-Tribune's golfer of the year. He finished his junior season ranked No. 26 by the FHSAA. He shot a 67 to win the individual SSAA state championship. Saint Stephen's won the Manatee County Championship, the Sunshine State Athletic Association state championship, a district championship and a regional championship in 2025, and Gu was a driving force in each win. In 2026, Gu shot a 72, tying for third at the John Sprague Invitational. Against Sarasota, Gu finished second, shooting a 70.
Grant McCall
School: Bradenton Christian
Year: Senior
Highlights: In 2025, McCall was named to the Herald-Tribune's All-Area team, winning the individual district tournament with a 69. He tied for 39th at regionals with an 80. In 2026, McCall shot a 73 against Classical Academy and Sarasota Christian. He shot a 33 — the lowest of the field — against Pine View and Gulf Coast Heat. Against Indian Rocks Christian and Lakewood Ranch Prep, McCall tied for the lowest score of the field with a 35.
Jacob Menard
School: Sarasota
Year: Senior
Highlights: In 2025, Menard was named to the Herald-Tribune's all-area team. He shot 78 or better in every round of the postseason. Menard finished tied third (71) at districts, tied 14th (78) at regionals and tied 29th (76-78) at the 3A state championship. So far, in 2026, Menard has tied for third at the John Sprague Invitational, shooting a 72. Against Saint Stephen's, Menard shot a 70, tying for second. At the Port Charlotte Invitational, Menard finished fourth with a 74.
Owen Paoli
School: Parrish Community
Year: Junior
Highlights: In 2025, Paoli was named to the Herald-Tribune's All-Area second team. At the John Sprague Invitational, Paoli finished second, shooting a 70. Against Lemon Bay, Paoli shot a 34, the lowest score of the field. And against Cardinal Mooney, he had the lowest score of the field with a 34.
Donovan Plakyda
School: Lakewood Ranch
Year: Senior
Highlights: Plakyda was named to the Herald-Tribune's All-Area team. He powered Lakewood Ranch to its district championship by winning the individual title with a 68. In 2026, Plakyda placed third at the John Sprague Invitational, shooting a 72. At the Titan Invitational, he shot a 143, placing ninth.
Girls Golf
Natalie Angelo
School: Parrish Community
Year: Senior
Highlights: In 2025, Angelo was named to the Herald-Tribune's All-Area team. She shot a 74 for a second-place solo finish at the regional tournament. At the 3A state championship, she shot a 79-70, tying for 13th. In 2026, against McKeel Academy and Academy of the Holy Names, Angelo shot five under for the lowest score of the field. At the 2026 Lady Maverick Invitational, Angelo shot four over, landing in eighth. Against Palmetto, Angelo finished first, shooting a 32.
Brooklyn Cullen
School: Out-of-Door Academy
Year: Junior
Highlights: In 2025, Cullen was named to the Herald-Tribune's All-Area team. She led ODA to an SSAA state championship, winning the individual title with a 71. She also tied for fifth at her regional tournament with a 76 and shot a 75-76 to tie for 35th place at the 1A state championship. In 2026, Cullen has placed first three times. Against Sarasota, she shot 2-under. At the Bishop Verot Invitational, Cullen shot four under (140) to win. And against Wellen Park, Cullen finished 4-under, shooting a 32.
Jade MacFarland
School: Lakewood Ranch
Year: Freshman
Highlights: In her first year at Lakewood Ranch, MacFarland has shown out. Against Manatee, MacFarland finished second, shooting a 37. In a matchup against Venice, MacFarland tied for first with a 36.
Phoenix Scanlan
School: Parrish Community
Year: Senior
Highlights: In 2025, Scanlan was named to the Herald-Tribune's All-Area team. Scanlan made a dramatic turnaround on Day 2 of the 3A state championship, improving from an 81 to a 72 to help Parrish win the title. She was also one of the best players at the regional tournament, tying for third place with a 74. So far, in 2026, Scanlan has finished second (36) against Palmetto, tied for fifth (75) at the Lady Maverick Invitational and second (2-under) in a matchup against Academy of the Holy Names and McKeel Academy.
Gabby Semmerling
School: Lakewood Ranch
Year: Freshman
Highlights: Semmerling has already made an impact in her first season at Lakewood Ranch. Against Manatee, Semmerling finished third, shooting a 38. In a matchup against Venice, Semmerling tied for first, shooting a 36.
Brooke Stevens
School: Cardinal Mooney
Year: Sophomore
Highlights: In 2025, Stevens was named to the All-Area second team. In 2026, she has continued the trend, placing first against Sarasota with a field-low 35. Against Lakewood Prep and Charlotte, Stevens finished with a 35, seven strokes better than the second-place finisher.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota, Manatee's top boys, girls golfers entering 2026
