Keegan Fennessy loves golf.

In high school at Poland Regional High School, Fennessy played golf for his team. He won the Class B state individual title with a 70 at Natanis, and followed that by helping his team to a second-place finish at the team states that season.

Not bad for a guy who barely picked up a club until he was a freshman.

The game became his passion.

“I set goals,” said Fennessy. “Over the summer that year, I worked my butt off. I took lessons and worked on my game.”

As a sophomore, Fennessy started every match, and as he went through his second summer, he noticed a rapid development.

“It was pretty fast,” said Fennessy. “My short game, my ability to drive the ball further. I figured that maybe I had a gift, and could use it.”

In the summer of 2005, Fennessy started playing in Maine junior events, making it to the quarterfinals of the Maine Junior Championship and making the cut at the Maine Amateur.

Last year, Fennessy finished in a tie for seventh at the Maine Amateur at Waterville Country Club. This time around, Fennessy was in the third-to-last group on the final day, teeing off just 20 minutes ahead of the final group.

He again made the top 10, finishing tied for eighth.

He continues to work his summers away at Point Sebago Golf Club now, and will look toward next year, and another chance to climb the ladder, one rung at a time.