Marathon and Coral Shores put in a few rounds of final practice leading up to their district matches this week. On Oct. 22, both teams met in Marathon for nine holes at Florida Keys Country Club. Coral Shores’ Gabby Thomas was first overall in the girls competition with a 46. Thomas, a senior, has led the ’Canes the past few seasons. Marathon’s Makenna Haines and Justice Lee Isom were second and third and Coral Shores’ Amber Ender was fourth.
In the boys competition, Coral Shores’ Preston Carroll shot a 39. His birdie on hole 2 helped Carroll secure the win. Marathon’s Mason Thornton was in second place, shooting a 42 over nine holes. Coral Shores’ Brock Bynum and Marathon’s Roco Piscetello tied at 44 in third place. Aidan Althouse was fifth for the ’Canes (45), then Fins Emmett Merryman, Jackson Millard, Jack Dunn and Aiden Richard and Hurricane Derek Ramos rounded out the top 10.
The following day, both teams traveled to Redland Golf and Country Club for 18 holes. The boys district event is held there, giving the athletes a bit of an edge in postseason play. Carroll’s birdie on hole 9 gave him an 88 for the day. The single-stroke advantage proved to be exactly what he needed for the win. Thornton was second again, with Merryman in third, then Coral Shores’ Jacob Bohnstedt in fourth. Bynum, Althouse and Piscetello were fifth through seventh. Luca Picariello of Marathon and Derek Ramos of Coral Shores all broke 100 over the 18 holes.
Thomas was the only female golfer to make the trip. She shot a 100 in her final round prior to district action. Thomas and the rest of the Hurricane and Dolphin girls golfers play their district match at Normandy Shores in Miami Beach.
Key West’s boys did a little traveling last week, with two rounds for their district warmup. On Oct. 21, they traveled to Coral Springs for the Maverick Invitational, which was postponed earlier this season. Peyton Zubieta and Geo Twyman tied for the top spot on the Conchs’ team. Both shot a respectable 89 over 18 holes. Jackson Barroso was two strokes behind and Andrew Bassett broke 100 at the match. Two days later, the Conchs headed to Palm Beach Gardens to the PGA National Resort, where they participated in the Wolverine Classic. Bassett was first for his team with an 83. Twyman was one stroke away. Zubieta finished the day with an 89 while Mason Titensor and Barroso each shot a 93.
If one of Monroe County’s teams or an individual golfer advances past districts, it will be an improvement from last season. Despite some strong talent, no athletes made the cut to regionals in 2023.
