Ridgewood's Justin Schlau hopes to finish his high school career strong and prove he is ready to play in college.
By JAMAL THALJI
Published September 11, 2003
NEW PORT RICHEY - It would not be fair to say that Justin Schlau has not taken the game seriously before.
Last season was his best yet. He led Ridgewood to a third-place finish at the Sunshine Athletic Conference championships and finished third himself. He medaled at the district and region meets. He qualified for his first state championship and placed 13th. During the summer, he made the cut at the prestigious American Junior Golf Association Junior Golf Championships.
But that was his junior year.
Now he is a senior.
Now it's time to really get serious. Because this is his last chance to leave his mark on the county record book. It is his last chance to realize his dream: to play in college.
"Before I was trying to do good," Schlau said. "But this is my senior year. I really need to do something, to do well, this year.
"This year I hope to make it and win states. It's my senior year so I've got to make something of myself. That's pretty much my goal this year."
Schlau returns as one of Pasco County's elite golfers, and he leads a Ridgewood team hoping to unseat defending SAC champion Mitchell and reach the postseason.
The Rams already took a hit in the SAC race. Undefeated Mitchell took a seven-stroke win Tuesday, and Schlau was outdueled by the Mustangs' R.C. Hyatt, whose 38 beat him by three strokes. "It just wasn't my day," Schlau said.
But Schlau expects to have better days this season. He has added strength and aerobic training to his daily practices, spending three hours a day on non-match days to get better.
"It's given me more energy," he said. "It's making me better."
Being consistent is Schlau's trademark, coach Gary Anders said.
"He's very even-tempered, very even-keeled," Anders said. "He very seldom gets into trouble very much because he's so consistent."
Schlau's low for 18 holes is 68 at Fox Hollow; for nine it's 32. By building on his strengths, Schlau hopes schools like Middle Tennessee State will continue to look at him.
"If anything's changed, it's my putting and short game," Schlau. "It's become a lot better."
It's all a part of his plan to keep playing after his senior season.
"This year I'm starting to focus a little more, I'm trying to get in the zone," Schlau said. "My goal is to shoot 33 or 32 before the year ends, and I want to make it to states and I want to win it.
"My putting and short game has gotten better. My practices have gotten harder. I'm just trying to get myself into condition to play college golf. I'm trying to take it further."
Schlau said the AGJA junior championship made him realize just how good he can be. If he could make the cut there, if he could place 57th in a field of some of the nation's top young golfers, if he was the 17th best player from Florida, then why can't he play in college?
"When I first started in ninth or 10th grade, I really wanted to play college golf," Schlau said. "But last year when I went to state, it hit me. I can play college golf.
"I see these kids out there, and they're not any different from me."
