Golf is typically an individual sport, but just like the PGA’s Ryder Cup, sometimes teamwork is the key.
“It's just becoming better friends with all of them,” said 12-year-old golfer Jeffrey Fumarola. “Just to be able to go out there together as a team and share that experience is going to be awesome.”
First, Anders Mattson’s team, consisting of four pairs, won the Northeastern New York PGA Section Championship at the Town of Colonie Golf Course. Next stop – the regional championship in Syracuse. Once again, the golfers from Saratoga National Golf Club shined.
We played really well in sectionals,” said Coach Mattson. “When we got to regionals, we kind of knew where we stood. We knew our game. We didn't really have to do anything overly special. Just play our game and we knew we had a good chance to advance.”
This year, 70,000 golfers played in the PGA junior league. This week, only 96 boys and girls will be on the links in Scottsdale, Arizona for the championship tournament.
It's going to be on ESPN,” Fumarola said. “I didn't realize how amazing it's going to be until you really let it soak in.”
The 12 all-star teams will tee off on Thursday for the four-day event. Another win for the New Yorkers would be historic.
If we won, that would be insane,” Fumarola. “That would be making history and your life would be half achieved almost if you win nationals out in Arizona because you beat the whole country basically.”
On Thursday, golfers will compete in a skill challenge before the real competition starts on Friday.