GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Three Clay County Special Olympics golfers are keeping their season alive as they prepare to head to the state championships.

Special Olympics can be found in many high schools throughout the county and are also a part of university campuses across the state. But, when those athletes are done with high school, or even college, their sports journey doesn’t have to end. Due to a collaboration between the Magnolia Point Golf Club and its owner, Trevor and Deneed Rothfels, and Cindy Triay, Robbin Fuller and many others, would-be golf retirees get to hit the green at least once a week.

“It’s great that [Special Olympics] is available in school, but we want to give the athletes more to do after they’re done with that,” Fuller said. “That’s what we’re here for.”

On April 5, Mike Woods, 34, Danielle Catlett, 21, and Jayson Keeton, 16, began their first-ever season with this Special Olympics team. Now, more than four months later, and after some impressive performances at a regional competition that took place on Aug. 4 in Daytona, they’re heading to Orlando next month to compete in the state championship. While they’re all a little bit nervous, they’re also excited to show off their skills.

“He’s just grown so much already this season,” said Keeton’s mother, Latanya Keeton. “His scores have continued to increase and he’s just so excited to [go to the state competition].”

Keeton has been playing golf for around seven years, but that’s not the only thing he plays. When he’s not on the green, he can be spotted bowling, running up and down the soccer field, and drilling layups on the basketball court. Latanya Keeton said her son can do these sports all because of Special Olympics.

“He’s very active and Special Olympics allows him to utilize that,” Keeton said. “It also allows him the opportunity to meet new people and reach his goals. We’re so thankful he’s able to do this.”

As for Keeton, he couldn’t be more excited. From the moment he stepped on the green during a presentation the team made to Magnolia Point Golf Club owners on Aug. 16, till the moment he left in his parents’ car, Keeton’s face held a smile that never broke.

And this excitement was matched by Keeton’s fellow state-competitors, Catlett and Woods. For Catlett, her biggest struggle was shots that required the use of her iron and wood clubs. Now, they’re two of her favorite clubs and she’s excited to show that improvement on a state level. Woods, on the other hand, struggled with putting but if his scores are any indication, he might be on the way to becoming the next most-popular golf player with the last name of Woods. His love of golf doesn’t end at the sport itself, though.

His favorite thing about golf is the course itself, according to Woods. The team’s head coach, Fuller, on the other hand, gets the most enjoyment from the happiness it brings the players.

“You know, these guys and girls might not get the chance to play regularly like this otherwise,” Fuller said. “I can tell you, I’ve seen the joy and improvement [Special Olympics] brings to their lives. It means the world to me that I’m lucky enough to be the one that coaches them on this journey.”

Fuller has been a part of the Special Olympics for five years and doesn’t see her time as a coach ending anytime soon. For her, sports have always been a way to connect with her son, who was also a special athlete at one point. Now, the help her son received as a special athlete is something she looks forward to sharing each time she meets with her team.

“Each person needs individual and undivided attention and through the help of this organization, and the team members, and all of the volunteers, we’re able to address each of their needs,” Fuller said. “And we’re able to do so by playing a sport we all love.”

On Sept. 7 and 8, Woods, Catlett and Keeton will head to Orlando to compete at the state competition. According to Fuller, this competition is as strict as any. The game of golf they’ll play will see none of its rules, courses, clubs or anything else changed. Simply put, they’re playing the same game of golf that Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy play and Triay, Fuller, the volunteers and the rest of the team will be rooting for them as they do.