BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
“Make it happen.”
The Keystone Heights High School boys golfers did just what Coach Ryan Begue told them to do, breaking a 40-plus-year school record with a team score of 146 (two over par) in a win over visiting Class 2A Ridgeview on Oct. 10.
Keystone, which finished 47 strokes ahead of Ridgeview, got a total of eight birdies from its top four individuals, including five from Connor Guy. Guy, who also made par on two holes, was the low-score medalist, shooting a personal record of 33 (three under par).
After posting a team score of 152 a couple of times more than a month ago, Begue asked Athletic Director Chuck Dickinson if that score was a school record. Dickinson contacted former coach Wayne Geiger, who said he had a team finish with a score of 148 in a one-stroke win over Gainesville in the late 1970s.
Begue told his top four players prior to the Ridgeview match that it was their last chance during the regular season to try to break a record they were four strokes away from. It would be the last-ever attempt for seniors Guy, Alex Addington and Nick Binet prior to 18-hole match postseason play (the younger players will participate in one last regular-season match prior to the District 3-1A tournament).
Considering the weather was good on Oct. 10 and the potential of the players, why not break the record? Begue told his players, “Teams like this don’t come around a lot.”
In other words, “Make it happen.”
Keystone (13-5) took the top four individual spots against Ridgeview. Addington, who had a birdie and made par on seven holes, finished three strokes behind Guy, while Ty Mitzel shot a third-place score of 37. Mitzel had a birdie and made par on six holes.
Binet, who had a birdie and made par on five holes, shot a 40 for fourth place.
Begue said he was happy knowing that the players now have something to look back and talk about throughout their adult lives.
“I know how much good memories mean,” Begue said.
The Indians’ Hunter Sheppard and Will Begue also played against Ridgeview. Sheppard, who had a birdie, placed seventh with a score of 46, while Begue had a ninth-place score of 49. Each player made par on two holes.
The play of Addington, Binet, Guy and Mitzel has been stellar this season. Three of their losses were to teams that placed in the top 10 at state last season: Episcopal (Class 1A runner-up), Beachside (third in Class 2A) and Fleming Island (sixth in 3A).
Keystone is ranked 38th in the state in Class 1A and eighth in their region. Every team ahead of them in either ranking is either a private or charter-magnet school.
The Indians will play in the District 3-1A tournament on Monday, Oct. 23, at 9 a.m. at Quail Heights in Lake City. Keystone’s top-four players are among the top six in the entire district, which consists of Bradford, Branford, Lafayette, Madison County, Peniel Baptist, St. Joseph, Taylor County and Union County.
Keystone will be aiming for its third straight district title.
To advance to the Monday, Oct. 30, Region 1 tournament, Keystone will have to place in the top three at the district tournament.
