- April 16, 2024
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The Pirates' Alek Libby watches his ball after a drive. Photo by Ray Boone
Matanzas' Erik Libby hits a drive on the par-5 seventh hole at Palm Harbor. Photo by Ray Boone
FPC's Joseph Rizzo hits a drive on the par-4 ninth at Palm Harbor. Photo by Ray Boone
FPC's Joseph Rizzo hits a chip shot from just off the green. Photo by Ray Boone
FPC's Joseph Rizzo drains a putt for par. Photo by Ray Boone
Matanzas' Erik Libby reads the green before a putt. Photo by Ray Boone
Matanzas' Gabe Gonzalez prepares to hit a tee shot on the par-4 fourth. Photo by Ray Boone
The Bulldogs' Cameron Coates hits his shot off the tie on the par-4 fourth at Palm Harbor. Photo by Ray Boone
Alek Libby had never played a high school golf match until he teed it up on the par-4 first hole at Palm Harbor Golf Club on the afternoon of Wednesday, Aug. 21.
But that didn’t bother him.
"I think the young golfers here in the area seem to be playing a lot more golf. We're having kids come in with more experience. He grew up playing tournament golf. I'm looking for great things from him in the future."
Matanzas coach Thad Busby on freshman Alek Libby
Libby, 14, had been tested with tournament experience well before he got to high school.
With 160 yards into the green, Libby fired a hybrid to about 5 feet from the pin. He sunk the putt for birdie on his way to a 3-over 39, which earned him medalist honors in the Pirates’ match against rival Flagler Palm Coast.
The players had to overcome greens that were recently aerated.
“Anything outside a foot was stressful,” Libby said. “But it was a good start to my high school career.”
The Pirates shot a team total of 173 to the Bulldogs’ 197.
“We both practice at the same place, and we’re both very competitive against one another,” Matanzas’ second-year head coach, Thad Busby, said. “Leading up to the season, my guys were playing pretty well and I expected them to come out today and shoot low scores. A couple of them struggled, but they pulled through at the end.”
