Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla. – The Villages High School girls golf team posted the highest finish at a state tournament in program history Wednesday in Howey-in-the-Hills.

The Buffalo placed 10th in the team standings – tallying a two-day, 36-hole total of 662 strokes – good for the lowest foursome score ever at the FHSAA State Championships held at Mission Inn Resort + Club.

Eighth-grader Kenzi Kacanich also posted the lowest individual score in program history at the state tournament, as she finished 22nd overall with a two-day total of 155. Kacanich shot a 78 in Tuesday's first round before finishing with a 77 in the final round Wednesday, earning the second-highest finishing position for a VHS girls golfer at states behind only Elle Folland (T-18th) in 2021.

Sophomore Alexis Wood shot a 166 over 36 holes of play to finish 42nd overall for the Buffalo, while eighth-grader Eden Williams (168, 48th place) and Deya Shaktawat (173, 61st) rounded out the VHS foursome.

Downtown Doral took first place as a team with a total of 629 strokes, with American Heritage (631) and McKeel Academy (633) placing top three in the 16-team standings.

The 10th-place finish for VHS, led by first-year head coach Daniel Rowan, trumped the previous best finishing position (11th) set back in 2021.


STATE TOURNAMENT TEAM FINISH HISTORY
2009: 14th (790)
2010: 15th (810)
2011: 16th (827)
2015: 16th (818)
2016: 16th (789)
2021: 11th (748)
2024: 16th (755)
2025: 13th (735)
2026: 10th (662)
NOTE: The Buffalo competed in the Class 1A state tournament from 2009-2016 before moving up to Class 2A in 2021.

STATE TOURNAMENT TOP INDIVIDUAL FINISH HISTORY
1. Elle Folland, T-18th (161), 2021
2. Kenzi Kacanich, 22nd (155) *lowest 36-hole score*, 2026
3. Katie Allen, 25th (158), 2024


Cody Hills can be reached for questions or comment at cody.hills@tvcs.org.