Keys prep golfers managed to get in plenty of play last week despite a Marathon match being canceled due to unplayable course conditions on Sept. 30.
On Oct. 2, all three teams met in Key West for nine holes. The Conchs had the collective low score of the day, scoring 191 to Coral Shores’ 198 and Marathon’s 227. Key West’s Geo Twyman had the top score with a 45. Preston Carroll of Coral Shores was two strokes behind in second. There was a two-way tie for third between Key West’s Andrew Bassett and Marathon’s Brett Clark, then a three-way tie for fifth between Conchs Mason Titensor and Brody Catena and Coral Shores’ Derek Ramos. Peyton Zubieta of Key West and Donovan Thiery and Brock Bynum of Coral Shores rounded out the top 10.
The Lady Conchs fared as well as the boys, with Claudia Steling winning by eight strokes. Steling shot a 48 with the help of a birdie on hole eight. Teammates Charlize Lopez and Lexi Finigan took second and third and Coral Shores’ Gabby Thomas claimed fourth. The Lady Conchs’ Monica Bueno was sixth, Marathon’s Justice Lee Isom and Makenna Haines tied for sixth place, and Breanna Santana of Key West and Sasha Gadea Mayer of Coral Shores were eighth and ninth, respectively.
Marathon sent only their underclassmen to Key West on Oct. 2, holding a practice match for their upperclassmen at home. Leo Mendez birdied on hole seven, shooting a 40 to finish first. Mason Thornton was one stroke behind in second followed by Chase Leird, Roco Piscetello and Max Childress, who rounded out the top five at the Florida Keys Country Club.
On Oct. 3, the Conchs traveled to Shula’s Golf Club in Miami Lakes to take on Mater Lakes Academy. Key West dominated in both the boys and girls competitions. Andrew Bassett, Geo Twyman and Jackson Barroso shared the number one spot with all three athletes shooting a 41. Peyton Zubieta and Mason Titensor were fourth and fifth, making a clean sweep over the Bears.
The girls also fared well, with Claudia Steling shooting a 47 to finish second overall. Monica Bueno, Charlize Lopez, Lexi Finigan and Breanna Santana finished fourth through seventh in the competition.
While the Conchs were at Shula’s, the Lady ‘Canes played nine in Coral Gables at Granada Country Club. In a very competitive field of four teams, Hurricane Gabby Thomas played a good round with a birdie on hole four and a 48 on the afternoon. Sasha Gadea Mayer and Amber Ender also competed for Coral Shores at Westminster’s home course.
Golfers have matches scheduled this week and next then will focus on the postseason. Monroe County’s teams will play in their district tournaments on Oct. 29 with the hopes of making it through to regionals the following week. Key West competes in the 2A classification at Palmetto while 1A Marathon’s and Coral Shores’ girls will be at Normandy Shores and the boys at Redlands Golf Course.
