Marathon’s Emmett Merryman made it two medalist finishes in as many days last week, leading local golfers through a pair of matches in challenging South Florida conditions.
On Sept. 30, Key West edged Marathon by just two strokes at Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo on Coral Shores’ home course. Despite the Conchs’ team victory, it was Merryman who claimed the top individual spot. The Marathon golfer carded a 38, finishing just two over par.
Key West swept the next three spots. Jakub Krytinar finished second with a 41, using a birdie on hole 6 to pull ahead of teammate Geo Twyman, who shot a 42. Mason Titensor was fourth, followed by Marathon teammates Cullen Coleman-Sayer and Roco Piscetello, who tied at 44.
Coral Shores’ Sawyer Hendrix and Key West’s Sonny Bowden tied at 46, while Hurricane Scout Oliver finished with a 47. Marathon’s Jack Dunn rounded out the top 10 with a 48.
In the girls match, Key West’s Lexi Finigan led the Keys contingent with a 53. Teammates Charlize Lopez and Mary Alice Davila each shot 55, followed closely by Marathon’s Makenna Haines with a 57. Marathon’s Elleanna Mowry shot 60, Key West’s Stella Tutlewski finished at 62 and Coral Shores’ Valerie Gabriel carded a 64.
The Dolphins and Hurricanes were back on the course Oct. 1, braving stormy skies for a match against Riviera Prep at Redland Golf & Country Club in Homestead. Despite less-than-ideal course conditions, the teams managed to complete all nine holes, with Marathon defeating Coral Shores 178-189 and both Keys teams finishing ahead of Riviera Prep.
Merryman was again the golfer to beat, shooting a 38 on the par-40 course for his second medalist performance in as many days. Hendrix was second among the Keys golfers with a 42, while Oliver and Marathon’s Piscetello tied at 44.
Coral Shores’ Nash Andruski joined Marathon’s Coleman-Sayer and Jacob Reed in a three-way tie at 48, while Marathon’s Ethan Wohlers finished with a 51.
Haines and Mowry were the only Keys girls competing in Homestead. Haines shot a 60, while Mowry finished three strokes back with a 63.
Keys golfers will continue to battle one another in intra-Keys matches over the next few weeks as the regular season winds down. Then it’s postseason time, with the boys teeing off in district competition Oct. 26 and the girls following on Oct. 27.
