& by Bryon Shive
To Reeds Spring senior golfer Ty Cooper, it was just good for the game of golf. Yes, he picked up some pointers himself. But he was more delighted to see so many up-and-comers taking mental notes, too.
In other words, the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame’s High School Golf Clinic – an event presented by the Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Company – was a hit for nearly 100 teens on Monday at the Highland Springs Country Club driving range. Each team was spaced in order to follow social distancing guidelines, and masks were required.
Brian Maloney, the Director of Golf at Highland Springs, lined up nine other local PGA teaching professionals for an event now in its 24th year.
“It’s beneficial for some of these kids out here,” said Cooper, who attended the event two years ago. “There are some golfers new to the game. It just creates a whole new path for them. I love it.”
Other high schools included Hillcrest, Central, Parkview, Kickapoo as well as the Glendale girls. Additionally, Marshfield, Monett, Seymour and Strafford bolstered attendance.
Golfers received instructions on their swings from area teaching pros such as Megan Furnish, Steve Harrison, Larry Ray, Jake Mann, Brian Bennett, Garrett Holt, Don Greene, John Brandish and Theo Atchison. The teens also were treated to Jersey Mike’s sub sandwiches and Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper products afterward.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for young student-athletes to come out and get in front of a golf professional. Some of these young men and women may not have had that opportunity. And even if they have, they may have been a little shy,” Maloney said. “This serves as an ice-breaker for them. … The ultimate goal is to grow the game of golf. That’s what the PGA Tour of America stands for.”
It certainly made a positive impression on Monett freshman Bo Stephens.
You see, Stephens has played golf since he was in grade school, learning from his dad. However, Monett’s season starts Thursday, meaning Monday’s event was a nice ice-breaker into his inaugural prep season.
“It was just nice to have some help from guys who have been playing a long time,” Stephens said.
Kickapoo senior Hunter Pounds echoed those sentiments.
“I’ve been playing for about two years – this is the first year I’m taking it seriously,” Pounds said.
Strafford’s Tucker Stone enjoyed the technical details.
“I learned to keep my left foot down because (Furnish) said it would cause more motion and give me a solid base,” Stone said. “It’s already helped me.”
Coaches certainly appreciated the pros turning out and the sponsors supporting the event.
“For our guys to receive instruction from these professionals, it’s incredible,” said Kickapoo golf coach Ron Yocum, who saw more benefits because his team is carrying a number of sophomores this season. “On the way here, I told them they had to be ready to tell (the pros) what their issue is.”
Asked what he liked about the event, Monett coach Brian Cox, said, “Everything.”
“This is our fourth year coming here. It’s just great,” Cox said. “What the (pros) are saying – I’m learning things and the kids are learning things. It’s a real positive.”
“This is an event that every Coca-Cola high school in the area needs to take advantage of,” said Taylor Frederich, who handles Sponsor Development for the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. “It’s not every day they get instruction from some of the best teachers in the game. And I heard a lot of coaches say they appreciated that Coca-Cola sponsored the event.”
