Sunday, October 14th, 2007 | posted by: Jonathan Jay

Garcia, Einhaus are All Sports/Daily News’ Golfers of the Year

Dec 8, 2007 12:22 am

By JARED MACARIN
jaredm@nwfdailynews.com
Niceville’s Ana Garcia and Rocky Bayou Christian’s Sean Einhaus both had plenty of expectations on them when the golf season began. Garcia was coming off a 15th-place finish at the Class 2A state meet, while Einhaus was recognized as one of the top junior players in the world. As the season progressed, neither senior disappointed. Garcia led Niceville to the state meet for the 10th straight year, along with district and regional titles. Einhaus never lost during the season, and the only reason he didn’t go further in the postseason is because he understandably missed the regional tournament to play for his home country of Germany in a world amateur event.
For their play, Garcia and Einhaus are the All Sports Association/Daily News Golf Players of the Year. Garcia beat out Fort Walton Beach’s Crystal Swanson for the award, while Einhaus topped Walton’s Paul McClure and Fort Walton Beach’s Kyle Andre.
“I thought it went well,” Garcia said. “The season was good, although I was a little disappointed at state with my finish, but overall it was a good experience.”
Einhaus echoed those sentiments, and said playing in regionals and possibly beyond was hard to miss. After his district win, he and his family tried unsuccessfully to find a way to participate in both the world amateur event and regionals before having to make a decision.
“I would have liked to play (in regionals) and maybe go on to states,” he said. “The chance to play for your country is great, and it’s sad it was on the same date.”
Niceville coach Mitch Inness said Garcia’s play and leadership will be hard to replace next year. Garcia, also the player of the year as a junior, has been a two-year captain for the Eagles.
“She has meant everything to this program,” he said. “We’ve graduated some real good golfers in the last four years, and she has been a huge reason why we have continued that tradition. She will be missed tremendously.
“She had a better senior year and that is tough because how she played as a junior. She is well deserving.”
Garcia took second at the Miracle Strip Invitational, tied for first at the District 2 tournament, placed second at the Region 1 tournament and 30th at state. She has signed with South Alabama, and said it wasn’t until she was surrounded by friends and family that she realized her accomplished high school career was over.
“It came up on me so fast,” she said. “It’s bittersweet. I am excited to move on, but I’m leaving behind great memories and something I know. When I signed, it was like I was closing that chapter of my life and moving on.”
Einhaus will be moving on as well, only he will go farther west to Oklahoma State. During the fall, he won the FCA tournament, Miracle Strip Invitational, Okaloosa County championship and the District 1-A tournament.
“I think I played pretty good, but you can always play better,” he said.
The idea of playing high school had not occurred to Einhaus in the past, as there are no team sports in Germany for high school kids. But after going through it the past few months, he likes the notion of it.
“I thought it was great,” he said. “To play for a team makes it more fun than just to play for yourself.”
Rocky Bayou coach Rich Grote was not surprised at the success of Einhaus, who had been coming to the area for the past few years during the summers to train with coach Willie Hofmann.
“He’s a great kid,” Grote said. “His maturity at 17 is nice to see. He supported our young team and was a joy to coach. He’s fun to watch. I wish we had him for a little longer.”

All-Area golf teams
Boys
First team
Kyle Andre, FWB
Sean Einhaus, RBCS
Brandon Jowers, Choctaw
Paul McClure, Walton
Brett Ochsenreiter, FWB
Kyle Ulrich, Niceville

Honorable mention:
Choctawhatchee: Trey Henderson, Kevin Lamson, Logan Clark, Randy Looney
Crestview: Mike Taylor
Fort Walton Beach: Duncan Conroy, Ryan Smietana, Andrew Snyder
Navarre: J.C. Grissom
Niceville: Avery Helms, Michael Postgate
Rocky Bayou Christian: Jason Rogers
South Walton: Billy Davis, Jared Kane
Walton: Heath Morgan, Aaron Timmons, Sean Carter, Dylan Laird

Girls
First team
Ana Garcia, Niceville
Crystal Swanson, FWB
Joy Armbrester, Niceville
Dana Mattson, FWB
Jaime Jordan, Niceville
Jourdan Perrin, Choctaw

Honorable mention:
Choctawhatchee: Marlow Garner, Lyndsey Chappell, Miller McInnis, Rebecca Gornto
Crestview: Devon Crummer
Fort Walton Beach: Summer Struzinski, Caroline Hudson, Ally Davis
Navarre: Brianna Risner
Niceville: Marissa Marinan, Cristina Garcia
Walton: Brooke Windham