State is twice as nice for 'Canes
Brother, sister help both Citrus squads qualify
By BRIAN SUMERS
Published November 8, 2005
How could Dawn Bang not play golf?
Her son, Bobby, spends his summer days from dawn to dusk on the course. Six days a week, he will hit balls on the range and play 27 holes - before lunch. Then, he will go another 18 until his mother picks him up. And Bobby, a precocious 14-year-old freshman, will represent Citrus High School in the state tournament beginning today.
Bang's daughter, Christine, is the No.2 golfer for the state-bound Citrus girls team. The junior can shoot in the high 80s and wants to play in college.
Mom is their biggest fan, but she hasn't picked up the game as quickly as her kids.
"I attempt to play," Dawn said. "I'm not a seasoned golfer like they are. It takes me five shots to get to their first shot sometimes.
Bobby and Christine learned the sport from their father, Bob, who sawed off adult clubs for both kids when they were about 8. Though Bob uses a hand-off approach during the high school season, the siblings rely on their dad for advice.
But there's no doubt which player is more obsessed with the game.
"He's out there all the time," said Christine, 16, who balances golf with a part-time job at the Roller Barn in Inverness. "I don't give him a hard time about it."
Except when Bobby beats her.
Granted, Christine no longer can defeat her brother over nine or 18 holes because he shoots in the mid 70s. And she can't out-drive him, so she doesn't do well in distance competitions.
But every now and then, Christine can edge Bobby in short-game competitions by placing the ball closer to the hole from 100 yards. When she loses these sibling matches, she will remind him that she doesn't camp out at the course.
But Bobby and Christine were each other's biggest fans three weeks ago, when both Citrus squads were fighting for a state berth.
Dawn followed Bobby's round in a cart. Bob watched Christine, with the parents sharing information via cell phone. Bobby carded 75. And Christine, battling sickness, recorded 104.
For most of that night, golf was the topic of discussion in the family's household. "Everybody was pumped," Dawn said. "It was all golf talk for several hours."
Though Bobby and Christine usually get along on the course, they maintain a bit of a rivalry.
"We're two years apart. We're going to fight sometimes," Christine said. "I don't know whether he would stick up for me, but I would stick up for him."
Bobby also wants to play in college, but neither has given much thought to schools. Bobby hopes to start shooting regularly in the low 70s to attract interest from college coaches.
In the meantime, Christine will keep balancing the sport with her social life and job. Bobby will continue playing 54 holes every day he can.
"It's relaxing and fun," Bobby said. "You can't hurt yourself. You can't break any bones or anything. You just play."
--Brian Sumers can be reached at bsumers@sptimes.com or 564-3628.