COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Coronavirus put a pause on many sporting events and some are just beginning to take place now.
The American Junior Golf Association hosted its tournament at Texas A&M‘s golf club this week. The event invited nearly 80 players from across the nation to compete in College Station.
“This week we’re having a Junior All-Star event out here that is for ages 12- 15, so some of these players, [it's their] first opportunity to play at a national level. The American Junior Golf Association, we run about a hundred twenty events across the country. The junior golfers are striving to get college scholarships through junior golf so it’s just a great week with a lot of players out here," said AJGA director of rules and competition Tyler Sumner.
This tournament that was supposed to take place in March was delayed because of the pandemic. But for these players, training did not necessarily stop because golf is an individual sport
“Golf is an interesting game because you can socially distance and kind of keep your distance. A lot of people were able to continue playing during this entire shutdown. A lot of kids’ games are where they’re supposed to be, they’re very sharp right now and I think you’re seeing that with their scores," said Sumner.
In fact, for the champion of this week’s tournament, she calls this quarantine period a blessing in disguise.
“I was lucky enough that my golf course didn’t close. All the practice facilities were closed, but we can still play so I was able to still get my game into the shape that I wanted it to be. Once they opened, I really started working hard again. I really got into my short game and my putting which has greatly improved during this amount of time so that’s helped me get it done," said tournament champion Mimi Burton.
Hard work and practice pay off. Just one year ago, things looked a little different for Mimi’s golf career.
“I had surgery on both my wrists last summer so I was out from April to September. I was doing great and now I do exercises and I’m doing fine now. It was really awesome a year later to be in a different place, versus just sitting on the couch icing and doing everything I couldn’t do before and watching my friends play in these things and not be able to be there," said Burton
Now, Mimi is crowned champion and making her golf comeback.
“I just want to thank everybody who has been my support team throughout my whole life. Both my parents and my little sister and little brother, coaches that I’ve worked with. It’s just been amazing," said Burton.
The AJGA has scheduled their tournaments throughout the rest of the year. To learn more about the association, visit https://www.Ajga.Org/schedule/2020