KEEPING UP

The 21-year-old graduated with honors from the Orlando campus of the San Diego Golf Academy, receiving an occupational associate degree in golf complex operations and management.

 "Becoming a PGA professional is a goal of mine but also is a credential that is a must to work yourself up in the golf industry. Becoming a PGA member validates your wanting to work in the golf industry as well as having the knowledge to do so," Runkel wrote in an e-mail. "In golf you can't move up to become a head pro or director of golf without becoming a PGA member."

He has started the first of three levels of book work, which he is trying to finish in two years. "After each level you send in your book work for grading, and then you go to the PGA headquarters to take a test before you can move on to the next level," he said. 

Runkel is assistant golf professional at Country Club of Landfall in Wilmington, N.C. He serves as coordinator for the Ladies Nine Hole Golf Association, which plays Thursday mornings from mid-March until early November. He sets the tournament's pairings and does the scoring. He also teaches lessons and clinics to members.

More men's golf

Rider University sophomore Jordan Wycoff, a Saint Stephen's Episcopal product, shot a 173 (90-83) at the Rutgers Invitational.

Also from Saint Stephen's, Brown University sophomore Michael Amato shot 163 (77-86) at the Navy Fall Invitational.

Cardinal Mooney High graduate Chris Kennedy shot a 234 (74-83-77) for University of North Florida at the Wolf Run Intercollegiate.

Field hockey

Venice resident Allison Conti is a freshman midfielder on the Northeastern University roster.

Women's soccer

Bayshore High graduate Kay Harbrueger of Georgia State University was named the Colonial Athletic Association Co-Player of the Week on Sept. 8, the second time this season she has been recognized. Through eight starts, Harbrueger has 11 goals and four assists to easily lead the team in points.

Savannah College of Art and Design's Jordan Luciano, a Manatee graduate, had an assist in a win over Warner Southern College.

Warner Southern senior Lindsey Weaver, also from Manatee, scored in a loss to Webber International University.

Saint Stephen's graduate Morgan Fragapane played in Presbyterian College's first eight games.

University of Florida's Jessica Eicken, out of Lakewood Ranch, started three of the first nine games.

Flagler College's Pam Quimby, a Charlotte product, scored against University of Charleston.

Sarasota graduate Callie Pederson had one goal and one assist for University of North Alabama against Eckerd College.

Elmhurst College's Jessica Webster, also from Sarasota, started five of the first six games.

Warner Southern senior midfielder Lindsey Weaver, out of Manatee High, scored against Ave Maria University.

Melissa Miller, previously at Lakewood Ranch High, started five of six games for Samford.

Volleyball

Cardinal Mooney High graduate Marilisa Strand recently was named to the Northeast-10 Conference volleyball weekly honor roll.

The Assumption College (Mass.) sophomore setter made the Sept. 8 honor roll for her performance in two matches.

She had 29 assists, four digs and five kills in a win over Worcester Polytechnic Institute in the season opener. Strand had 27 assists, four digs and three kills in a loss to Clark University.

Courtney Gay, who played two years for Sarasota High, led Samford University with 14 digs during a victory over University of South Florida in the Crimson Tide Invitational. She was named to the all-tournament team.

Emily Werner, a Riverview High graduate, led Campbell University with 14 kills and added 10 digs in a win against Stetson University.

Lemon Bay High product Lauren Garza had seven digs for Campbell against Stetson.

Stetson freshman Kaylee Ream, formerly at Venice High, had 12 kills and six digs against Campbell.

Mercer University freshman setter Nickie Halbert, a Venice graduate, had 12 assists, six digs and two kills against Samford.

Out-of-Door Academy graduate Brittany Fuhr had one kill for St. Leo University against Converse College.

Shellie Barnwell, out of DeSoto County High, led Warner Southern College with seven service aces against Florida Christian.

Charlotte High graduate Megan Voss had two kills for Warner Southern in a win over Edward Waters College.

Women's swimming

West Virginia University senior Lindsey Largo, formerly at Pine View, has been selected co-captain for the upcoming season.

Baseball

Venice graduate Zack Montalbano is a right-handed pitcher on the Guilford College preseason roster.

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