Published: October 07, 2008 11:45 pm      

Key to success

Lamar school junior will be hitting with the pros

During the better part of this week, Easton Key will be no different than any high school student at Lamar High School as he goes from one class to another.

What sets the 16-year old apart, however, is that as soon as he gets out of school in the early afternoon on both days he will be trying to post better scores than professional golfers during the Fourth Annual Community Bank Golf Classic which starts today at Northwood Country Club.

Many people would be somewhat intimidated knowing they will be going against the best golfers from the Adams Golf Pro Tour Series. These are guys who've been honing their games for many years hoping to advance to the Nationwide Tour and eventually the PGA. But Key didn't seem fazed by those facts.

"I've never had this kind of experience so I'm not nervous," Key said Thursday after hitting some practice balls as the pros played in the pro-am. "I'm excited, but I know this course so well and I'll be playing against it more than I will against the other golfers. But it is a dream to play with this caliber of player."

Key was given a sort of sponsor exemption having won the Amateur Championship at Northwood in August. And Key is no stranger to championships while being a part of three state championship teams from Lamar High School and winning the State Amateur title three times. Add to all of that experience so far at a young age Key will have a home course advantage on the tight, unforgiving course.

"I know where to hit the ball and the breaks on the greens," he said. "I've shot three-under so many times I believe if I play my game I'll be alright."

He's still a student first, though.

When he told his teachers and some friends at school he would be playing in the tournament they wished him luck and said they were excited for him.

"But mostly this is old stuff to them," Key said with a smile. When Key was seven, Key's uncle and aunt invited he and his dad, Ronnie, to play a round of golf. Key, already a crackerjack baseball player, had no idea how momentous that one round of golf would be nor how it would change the direction of his life.

"Ronnie came home from that trip to the golf course and said we had Easton in the wrong sport," said Leigh Ann Key, Easton's mom. "Ronnie recognized Easton's ability right off and from there the change began."

At the age of 10 Easton Key dropped baseball altogether to concentrate on golf. It was a decision he said he doesn't regret.

"Golf is so mental and physical," said Key, showing more wisdom than his age would seem to allow. "If you don't show up with both your head and body in the game then you aren't going to score well."

Key's perfect scenario? Qualify for the weekend.

"That would be the ultimate dream," he said with a broad grin. "To say I made it into the weekend ... that'd be great."