The 10-year-old junior program of the Western States Golf Assoc. (WSGA) not only provides training and mentoring to young, aspiring golfers, it also provides annual $1,500 scholarships for select students. Financial assistance is provided by member clubs within each WSGA area (there are 31 chapters within six states).
Training and mentoring is provided by each area’s local golf-club teaching pros, and pilot programs are implemented in conjunction with WSGA’s partnership with American Golf. Practice sites and playing times at local golf courses are provided for ages seven through 17. The culmination of this training is an annual, multi-day Junior Golf Championship Tournament, with competition between WSGA juniors and other youth golfers. It attracts more than 300 juniors each year.
Meet Andrew Proctor, age 10, a member of the Desert Mashie Juniors in Phoenix. The four-time U.S. Kids Arizona state champion is a poised, polite fifth-grader who enjoys, but is somewhat humbled by the buzz that he may very well be the next Tiger Woods. In fact, Andrew is a member of the Tiger Woods Foundation for the third straight year. When asked what a young golfer needs to do to become a member, he answered, “Make straight As!” Being an excellent golfer doesn’t hurt. But Andrew also confirmed that, once a member gets a lower grade of even a B+ in one class, they’re out. He makes it a point to keep those grades up.
Andrew also will play for the fourth time in the WSGA Junior Championship this month, a tournament in which he is a previous three-time winner. He also has participated in world events including the U.S. Kids European Championship in Gullane, Scotland, and the U.S. Kids World Championship. And, at the June 2009 WSGA tournament held in Denver, he sported medals in putting, par 3, and longest drive in his age group.
Closer to home, Denver’s Taylor Johnson, age 17, has been playing golf for 10 years, mentored by his father who has hosted golf tournaments. A tall, good-looking and quiet young man, Taylor is excited to have received a $5,000 scholarship from WSGA and will be attending Spring Hill College in Mobile, Ala. He served as captain of the varsity golf team at Bishop Machebeuf High School and intends to further his interest in golf by trying out for the team at Spring Hill. He represented the state of Colo. in the 2005-2006 WSGA tournament in Calif.
A well-rounded gentleman, Taylor also plays bass guitar for the Jazz Garden African-American Leadership Institute Music Component; is a member of Jack & Jill of America, Denver chapter; and a member of the Cherry Hills Country Club Junior Golf Program as well as its tennis team. He also has served as a volunteer for various children’s charities such as Rainbow House and Children’s Hospital.
Rounding out the notable youth golfers at the WSGA tournament are Cammrynn (Cammi) Stith, 19, and her younger brother, Quincy, 12, both from Wichita, but members of Denver’s Mile High Sandbaggers (WSGA chapter) along with their father, Winston, an avid golfer. Cammi, a mass communications major at Jackson State University, Miss., who aspires to be a film editor, was the female overall champion at this year’s WSGA tournament – has only been playing competitive golf for five years. As a college freshman, she was selected to SWAC’s First Team All Conference where her team competed in the East Region of the NCAA tournament. A poised young woman with a winning smile, Cammi volunteers her time by helping younger kids at a local junior golf program.
Quincy Stith is a typical 12-year-old who loves playing golf, basketball, Wii and enjoys swimming and travel. He recently won his first golf tournament at a country club in Wichita where he shot a 45 for nine holes. At this year’s WSGA awards ceremony, Quincy claimed he is aspiring to do better in school so he can become a member of the Tiger Woods Foundation like his friend, Andrew. But he also says, with a sly grin, “I’ve been saying that for a while, but this time I’m really going to try harder in 7th grade.” Another well-rounded kid, he’s in an advanced math program, the chess club, running club, school choir and plays the saxophone. And his favorite golfer? Phil Mickleson – because they’re both left-handers.
