Winter Park is ranked No. 1 in Class 3A boys golf for the year according to the iWanamaker scoring app.
But the Wildcats had to hold their breath and hope for an at-large berth to make the FHSAA state tournament, which will be contested Friday and Saturday at the Mission Inn Club & Resort in Howey-in-the-Hills.
Winter Park shot a solid 299 but placed fifth in last week’s loaded Region 1 tournament behind Port Orange Spruce Creek (289), Fleming Island (290), Lake Mary (292) and 2019 state champ Tallahassee Chiles (296).
Only the top three finishers in each region get automatic bids to the state finals, but the performances by Chiles and Winter Park were good enough to earn two of the four at-large berths.