Meet Spruce Creek golfer Tylar Whiting: The potential next state champion
PORT ORANGE — In her first two years of high school, Spruce Creek senior Tylar Whiting played golf on the Atlantic boys team.
The experience helped her become a better golfer. But her name, however, got pushed to the background.
Well, not anymore.
In the biggest matches, her game improved. She carded a 70 and was the co-medalist at the 3A District 4 tournament, leading her team to a third-place finish. She lowered her score at regionals, shooting 69 and finishing second overall.
Now, she is headed to the state finals to compete for an individual title.
The News-Journal caught up with Whiting as she prepares for the biggest moment of her high school career in her final act at Spruce Creek.
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N-J: When did you start playing golf?
TW: When I was seven. My dad started playing and my sister began competing in local tournaments. Then I started playing and I really liked it. So, I got some coaches.
N-J: What did you learn from playing with the boys?
TW: Definitely hitting it farther. Also, playing with them was more strategic and not just girl talk. So, I learned more and that made me progress into a better golfer.
N-J: What did you want to set out to prove before the start of the golf season?
N-J: Girls golf is not looked at as much as something like flag football. It is something you can do as a career. Also, getting my name out there.
N-J: What do you ultimately want from golf?
TW: I want to be on the tour. And if not, I want to do coaching or something in golf.
N-J: What’s your mindset when you go out on the golf course and you know the stakes are high?
TW: A lot of problems that girls have is that they think about what other people are doing. So, I think of just what I can do — my short game, chipping, doing everything I’ve been practicing and not overthinking it.
N-J: What did this year teach you about leadership as the captain?
TW: You don’t have to be a follower. You can do what you want and it helps. For regionals, I made them (her teammates) little books and showed them where to look out. I like helping because I grew up doing it.
So, even me making the little books or helping them align their putt, they remembered while they were playing.
N-J: What message do you have for younger girl golfers?
TW: Go out and have fun. You don’t have to be really good. There’s so many camps that you can do where you can meet good people and learn how to golf. There are even clubs in college where you can just play for fun.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: FHSAA Golf: Spruce Creek senior Tylar Whiting eyes state title
