In the rural Ozarks, for high school golfers, a season-opening clinic led by local golf teaching professionals is something special.
Just ask Braden McGregor and Blair Abraham. The two Buffalo High School seniors expressed appreciation Monday in turning out for the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame’s 28th annual High School Golf Clinic presented by the Ozarks Dr Pepper Bottling Company.
The event featured nine golf pros, including MSHOF inductees Rick Grayson and Brian Maloney, as nearly 100 high schoolers turned out from 10 high schools.
The golfers represented teams from Kickapoo, Central, Buffalo, Ozark, Reeds Spring, Clever, Marshfield and Republic.
“It’s pretty cool. They’re out here trying to make us better,” McGregor said. “I’m hoping to make my game better and be more consistent.”
Said Abraham, “I’m hoping to concentrate on my swing, to let them point out what I’m doing wrong and really just learning from these guys.”
The event has long marked the start of the Hall of Fame’s golf season, which features a number of pro-ams as well as the Price Cutter Cares presented by Dr Pepper.
Highland Springs Country Club allowed for the use of its driving range, while Chick-fil-A Glenstone provided complimentary sandwiches. Great Southern Bank and Hiland Dairy Foods also provided free goodies for the teens.
The pros features Erick Womack and Steve Harrison of Highland Springs Country Club, Garrett Holt of Horton Smith Golf Course, Hayden Wiggins and Mike Miguel of Twin Oaks Country Club, Brian Maloney, recently retired Rick Neal of Hickory Hills Country Club, Ryan Odle of Bill & Payne Stewart Country Club, and Rick Grayson of Rivercut Golf Course.
“I’ve been able to bring my team to this event for the past 20 years,” Buffalo coach Brennon Abraham said. “It’s really helped give them some expertise from the pros who take time out to give to the kids. It allows me as a coach to be able to use that to remind them about the lessons the pros gave it. And they listen to someone.”
Republic’s Dylan Delahey, a senior, certainly was all ears.
“It helps a lot. Talking to all these pros, you get a lot of information,” Delahey said. “They said I had a pretty solid swing, but they said I was swinging a little hard. So they said to chill down with my swing and also with my stance. It seemed to help with my shots.”
Overall, it was a tremendous day, with most of the teams starting their season next week.
“What an incredible day for the future of the game,” said Rob Marsh, CEO & President of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. “Seeing this many young athletes show up, eager to learn, compete, and grow, is exactly what it’s all about. This is bigger than golf, it’s about mentorship, opportunity, and investing in the next generation of leaders both on and off the course.”