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Tracking Brevard’s sports stars:

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Melbourne Beach’s Caroline Marks win $100,000 in surf contest in Australia for first major title Courtesy of World Surf League, Florida Today

Caroline Marks: The Melbourne Beach native opened the World Surf League season in a big way, winning her first major title, the Boost Mobile Pro Gold Coast in Australia.

Marks defeated Carissa Moore 13.83-11.67 in the final.

It was the first time on the WSL that the women’s prize fund matched the men, so Marks won $100,000, as did men’s winner Italo Ferreira of Brazil.

Marks had defeated seven-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore 16.80-8.77 in the quarterfinals after eliminating Isabella Nichols 13.84-8.27. Marks, 17, opened her season by winning her first-round heat with a 14.50 score. It is the start of qualifying for next year’s Tokyo Olympics, where surfing will make its debut.

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A year ago, as a rookie on tour, Marks also defeated Gilmore, who went on to win the 2019 world title.

Marks won the Florida Pro at Sebastian Inlet in January, her second straight title there. She now has four career wins.

Marco Dawson: The Merritt Island resident got a lot of TV time last weekend, when he placed fourth in the PGA Champions Tour’s Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic. He finished at 5-under par, just two shots off the pace but had at least two putts painfully lip out. He shared the first-round lead.

Ashlyn Harris: The former Satellite High standout was listed as the No. 2 goalkeeper for the U.S. National Team, which beat Australia 5-3 on Thursday night. Just a handful of games remain before the World Cup roster is announced. Her fiancee, Orlando Pride teammate Ali Krieger, also is hoping to make the squad. Sunday night, they were to play Belgium.

David McKay: The former Viera High pitcher was called up to the Seattle Mariners for the first weekend of the season and just hours before his 24th birthday. He is now with Triple-A Tacoma. 

Dustin Geiger: The former Merritt Island slugger is playing for Leones de Yucatan, his third Triple-A team in two seasons in the Mexican Baseball League. The Sultan of Swat put on an impressive home run barrage at the first practice. 

Billy Horschel: The Grant-Valkaria native did well in the WGC-Dell Technologoes Match Play event last week, reaching the third round before falling to Kevin Na, 3 and 1.  Horschel beat Bubba Watson 2 and 1 and played to a draw with Jordan Spieth. But he did not make the cut at the Texas Valero Open this weekend, shooting 6-over-par for two rounds.

Kelly Slater: The 11-time world surfing champion from Cocoa Beach, now 47, opened what could be his final full season on the World Surf League, scoring a 3.33 ride on his first ride and lost out in his first two heats in Australia. 

Brian Johnson: The former Cocoa Beach High and Florida standout started the season with a pair of shutout innings and a win for the Boston Red Sox, but was roughed up Friday night against Arizona, allowing six hits, a walk and seven earned runs in 1.3 innings. He was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday.

Beau Taylor: The former Rockledge High and UCF standout catcher is with Oakland’s new Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators.

Austin Allen: The former Florida Tech catcher is playing for San Diego’s Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas of the Pacific Coast League. He went 1-for-5 in the opener.

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Titans Manager of Athletic Communications Mike Parsons talks with softball player Nikki Pennington about the 2018 season. Video by Rob Landers. Posted 2/21/18

Nikki Pennington: The former Palm Bay softball standout had a terrific night at the plate against rival Indian River State, collecting 14 total bases (a homer, double and single in each game) in a doubleheader, but the Titans dropped both games, with former Viera High standout Madison Headley scoring the winning run in Game 2. A year ago against Indian River, Pennington’s homer knocked out the scoreboard lights.

Tracking Brevard’s Sports Stars appears twice monthly in FLORIDA TODAY. Have a star to track? Email hgrossma16@yahoo.com or leave a message at 321-242-3676.