Andy Romike is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Combs High School for AZPreps365.com

 

CHANDLER - Under the heat of the scorching East Valley sun, Combs High School took to the links at Lone Tree Golf Club on Tuesday for its second-to-last boys golf meet of the season.

The Combs Coyotes faced the Queen Creek Bulldogs and the Poston Butte Broncos in the meet, placing second behind Queen Creek. Though they were unable to keep up with the Bulldogs’ impressive 2-over-par team finish, the Coyotes were able to find their way into the top four of individual finishes. 

Junior Travis Vigneux finished fourth overall, shooting a 3-over-par 36. The performance was no surprise for head coach Steve Larson.

“He’s the best golfer we’ve had in the school’s history,” Larson said before the meet. “He’s fully committed to the game, he’s been working with a swing coach, everything. That’s just a testament to his commitment.”

Playing alongside Vigneux was Queen Creek senior Peyton Shields, who ended up finishing first overall in individuals. Though they were rivals on the course today, the two have a long-standing friendly relationship, having played club golf together as well as practicing at the same course during the season. 

This added layer of friendly competition between the two was apparent during the competition, as throughout the afternoon, Vigneux and Shields were constantly playfully trash-talking one another. 

“Travvy … ” Shields said after his competitor missed a 4-foot putt on the course’s sixth hole. “How do you do that, bro?” 

 

Combs' Travis Vigneux and Queen Creek's Peyton Shields line up their putts during Tuesday's meet

Despite the banter on the course, it was apparent that the pair had mutual respect for one another.

“He’s better than me -- way better,” Vigneux said about his friend-turned-opponent. “When you surround yourself with people who are better than you and play against them, you get better yourself.”

Travis Vigneux and Peyton Shields chatting after finishing their ninth and final hole of the meetThough they only had one top-five individual finish, the Coyotes’ second-place team finish was an all-around effort. Junior Dylan Shuman and sophomore Stetson Horne finished sixth and seventh in individual standings, respectively.

Rather than waiting for his team to finish at the end of the course, Larson took every opportunity he could get to communicate with his players, standing in the sun along the fairway of the ninth hole and waiting for all five of his players to pass by.

“Our goal is to come out here, improve as a team and to do the best we can, and it’s my job to make sure my guys have the recourses to do that,” Larson said about his team after the match.

Coyotes head coach Steve Larson watches on as junior Preston Lord chips from the hole nine fairway during Tuesday's meet

As the regular season comes to a close on Thursday, Combs will face Basha, Casa Grande and have a rematch against Queen Creek, all of which are upper-division opponents for the Coyotes. During their season finale, Vigneux will have a chance to earn one of 18 spots in the individuals’ state championship, a task that he will need to shoot at or below par on Thursday to accomplish.