KEYS GOLFERS PUT IN AN EXTRA NINE BEFORE DISTRICTS

Keys golfers decided to meet in the middle for nine more holes of local competition before heading to their respective district tournaments. On Oct. 16, Marathon’s Summer Haines had the low score on her home course with one of the largest margins of victory seen in match play this season. Haines won the contest with 44 strokes, parring on four holes and gaining some confidence prior to her final district competition, in which she hopes to make it to the next level for the first time in her career. 

Also hoping to cap off her season in style is Coral Shores junior Gabby Thomas. Thomas shot a 51 in her final regular season round and has all the skills necessary to advance. Key West’s Claudia Steling was two strokes behind Thomas after a stellar start. Steling, just a sophomore, birdied on hole 1, then had some trouble later in the course, placing her third in the match. Like Haines and Thomas, Steling has what it takes to make it to regionals this season if she plays a solid game. Key West’s Lexi Finigan and Marathon’s Makenna Haines, both freshmen, placed fourth and fifth, respectively.

Marathon’s Michael Merryman was the boys’ winner, shooting a 39 in his final home match. The senior birdied on hole 4, then shot an eagle on 7, winning the event by four strokes. Key West Junior Andrew Bassett came in second place, followed by freshman Roco Piscetello of Marathon and senior Ryan Kight of Key West, who tied for third with 44s. 

Junior Conch Peyton Zubieta scored a 46, good enough for fifth place in the match. Zubieta earned two birdies and an eagle in the round, but a few tough holes mixed in tarnished what would otherwise have been a phenomenal game. Marathon sophomore Dylan Ziels, seventh grader Emmett Merryman and junior Leo Mendez were sixth through eighth, Key West’s Ty Hill was ninth and Mason Thornton of Marathon was 10th. 

The top golfers for Coral Shores were Brock Bynum and Derek Ramos, who tied Key West’s Smith Switzer for the 11th spot. Just as with the girls this season, a coveted round at regionals is within grasp of all of the Keys’ top male golfers. It will come down to perseverance, solid play and a bit of luck.