Even though he was just crowned Most Valuable Player of the PAC 8 for 2016, Righetti High School junior Keith Moles insists he hasn’t played his best golf yet this spring.
“I feel like I’m really close to getting really low numbers in these next couple tournaments,” he told the Sun.
What score constitutes a “low number” depends on who you ask. If you ask the PAC 8 competition, they’ll probably tell you that Moles’ scores are plenty low.
Moles beat the field at the PAC 8 league tournament at the Morro Bay Golf Course on May 4, finishing his second round with a one-over 72. The finish easily qualified him for the CIF regionals.
With the multi-round CIF regional tournament kicking off on May 9 at the Las Posas Country Club in Camarillo, Moles has a great opportunity to show the Central Coast what he’s capable of.
If Moles gets the scores he’s hoping for, he could qualify for the state tournament.
He resisted getting ahead of himself though.
“I know there’s going to be a lot of good kids there,” Moles told the Sun. “Obviously, everyone who’s there deserves to be there. I know if I play well, I could move on. I’ll try to get out of this first round first.”
Moles said he’s made significant progress on his golf game this season, most notably improving his tee shot.
“I’ve gotten a lot better off the tee,” Moles said. “I was struggling off the tee before. It’s a lot straighter, and I’ve gained a lot of distance over these last couple months.”
Righetti golf coach Terrance Got agreed, but said he’s noticed more progress in Moles than the feet-traveled on his tee shot.
“I’ve seen him really mature,” Got said. “Golf is a mental game [and] he’s really matured mentally.”
Got also attributed Moles’ recent run of success to learning from past tournament experiences over the years.
“He has played in more and more tournaments and gained experience,” Got said. “That’s why he’s able to compete at such a high level right now.”
Moles plans to participate in more golf tournaments over the summer to help sharpen his game and get more exposure to college scouts. If all goes according to plan, Moles will come out ready to rock next year for his senior season and beyond.
“I just need a little more practice,” Moles said. “I feel like everything’s coming together at the right time.”
This article appears in May 12-19, 2016.
