It’s unusual for an athlete to start playing a sport his sophomore year, make the varsity team, and within two years become one of the best players. This tale of rising from the bottom to the top is the story of golf team captain and senior Kevin Reale.

Without taking a single golf lesson in his life, Reale worked hard and persevered to become the top golfer on the Algonquin team. Reale currently is shooting in the top five for Algonquin every match, helping the team secure its record of 15-1, Mid Wach A League champions, second at Districts, and fifth at States.

“I started playing golf the summer going into sophomore year,” Reale said. “I liked it a lot, so I played it a lot.”

Reale played almost every day working to perfect his game at his favorite country club.

“I play at the Haven Country Club in Boylston,” Reale said. “It’s my favorite place to play because it is where I learned the game, and it’s where all my family and friends play.”

During his junior year, Reale was one of Algonquin’s top golfers alongside senior Kevin Hatton.

When Reale was awarded captainship of the team along with Hatton, he was very excited. However, being a captain comes with many responsibilities behind the scenes.

“Golf is an individual game, but I am responsible for helping the underclassmen handle their mental game,” Reale said. “I help them focus on the goal at hand.”

The team lost last year’s senior standouts Connor Henderson and Andrew Warfield who now golf at Bryant University, but Reale still has confidence in this year’s team.

“I think we have the team that could possibly go really deep in the state tournament,” Reale said. “Last year we came in third, and we are the best public school. The only really improvement is to win states.”

Senior Kevin O’Leary has watched his close friend progress as a golfer over the past three years.

“We played when we were younger, and he was really not good,” O’Leary said. “And I’m not good either, but this kid has worked his butt off and now he’s a star. He has a .8 handicap at all courses around and this kid is unbelievable.”

As for the future, Reale does not know if he wants to continue his golfing in college.

“It depends on the opportunities that come to me, but as of right now I have no future plans,” Reale said. “If I got a D1 offer I would possibly play.”