George Jenkins' Williams Shoots For Strong Showing

LEDGER CORRESPONDENT

George Jenkins senior Linda Williams knows what it's like to play in the district golf tournament because she has been there three times before.

 

The Class 2A, District 8 tournament is today at the Deer Run Course, a 5,200-yard, par-72 course at Sun'n Lake Golf and Country Club in Sebring, a where Williams hopes to help the Eagles advance to regional play.

 

"I know this could be my last round as a George Jenkins Eagle," Williams said. "I have to do my best for the team."

 

Joining Williams in the 9 a.m. shotgun start will be fellow senior Niki Jenkins, sophomore Crislyn Lucas and freshmen teammates Morgan Shock and Mani Jenkins.

 

"Their (my teammates) outlook on golf is great," said Williams, the team captain. "It's all about golf. We have a common goal: to encourage each other and play the best golf for each other."

 

The top three teams and top three individuals not from a qualifying team at districts move on to regional play.

 

"I think if we play well, we have a really good chance of advancing," Williams said.

 

Williams' low nine-hole score this season came last Tuesday at Wedgewood. The honors student with a 3.973 grade-point average shot 41 to grab medalist honors and lead Jenkins to victory over Bartow and McKeel Academy. Williams shot 87 in Sebring's 18-hole Hawkins/Crutchfield Invitational earlier this season.

 

Without the nudging of her parents, Williams almost decided to forego her senior season to focus on school, extracurricular activities and a minimum-wage, part-time job at Skate World as well as babysitting duty.

 

"My parents told me, ‘We know that you do love it (golf), and you're not going to be happy if you make that decision (to quit),'" Williams said.

 

The proverbial pack rat, who keeps all her scorecards, did not want to play at the beginning of the year because she wasn't as serious about the game and saw no point in continuing $100 golf lessons from PGA professional Gil Foushee at Eaglebrooke.

 

The Polk State College Collegiate High School student, who continued playing golf for the Eagles because CHS is without an athletic program, has been taking collegiate level courses since the summer before her junior year. Williams will receive her associate's degree in May from CHS.

 

"It (playing) was a good decision," said Williams. "I cannot imagine not playing in competition."

 

After her final regular-season match at Willowbrook Thursday, Williams admitted to being emotional after George Jenkins' coach Suzanne Walker-Liljequist congratulated her senior players Niki Jenkins and Williams on their final match.

 

"I started crying because it was our last match," said the National Honors Society president at CHS. "I always thought I was going to play collegiately, but I don't really want to play for six hours a day and go to school as well."

 

Williams, also the Eagles' girls basketball team manager, attributed a lot of her progress to Walker-Liljequist.

 

"I think the strongest part is my mental game," said Williams. "Suzanne has helped me a lot. Nobody has really ever told me before that there's nothing to fear in golf, and being that she played in high school, in college at Illinois and tried to make it on the professional tours, Suzanne has been there and done that. She always has the right words and the right advice for us."

 

Walker-Liljequist said Williams is competitive because of her mental approach.

 

"The best part is her positive attitude and outlook," Walker-Liljequist said. "It is imperative for great golfers to bounce back after a high hole. She can make birdies and is just a great, steady golfer."

 

Walker-Liljequist said Bartow and Sebring will be the strongest contenders to oppose George Jenkins. Individually, Bartow's Markie McCann won the Polk County Tournament at Lekarica with a 40.

 

Frostproof eighth-grader Maddie Aldrich will be lead the Bulldogs in the Class 1A District 13 championship with shotgun start at 9 a.m. at the River Greens Golf Course in Avon Park Monday..