Athlete of the Week: Kyle Jarrett

Fourteen-year-old Kyle Jarrett shot a personal best 3-under-par 33 to earn medalist honors and help lead the Nolan Middle School golf team to a second-place finish at the Middle School Golf Championships May 17, at Laurel Oak Country Club in Sarasota.

The eighth-grader, who moved to Florida from Maryland about eight months ago, followed up his performance with an even-par 72 to earn medalist honors for the second consecutive day and win the boys 13 to 15 division of the final event of the Greater Sarasota Junior Golf Association Winter Series May 18, at the Meadows Country Club in Sarasota.

Jarrett, who plans to attend Cardinal Mooney High School in the fall, most recently competed in the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour’s Major Championship May 31 through June 1, at Lake Jovita in Dade City.

Jarrett practices six days a week at The River Club and at The Lakewood Ranch Country Club, where he takes lessons with PGA professional Jon Bullas.

This summer, Jarrett plans to compete in GSJGA elite junior tournaments and HJGT tournaments, among others.
 

I was very excited to earn medalist honors two days in a row. I had to work for both of them. You couldn’t just go out and goof off. You had to put focus into it and hit nice shots. In the middle school championship, I shot a 3-under par, and I had never done that in a tournament before. Then, to be able to come back and shoot 72 the next day made it even better. My ball striking was at the top of my game. I made a lot of putts, and I had six birdies.

My dad, Scott, and my uncle, Anthony, got me a little club when I was 3 years old, and I would go out and hit in the fields. I started having fun with it, and then I picked it up when I was a little older. I played in my first golf tournament when I was 6 years old, but I didn’t really start to pursue it until I was 10 years old. That’s when I consistently started playing in tournaments.

I love the strategy (involved) in golf. For the whole time you’re playing, you have to put 100% into it. You have to be focused on what shot you’re going to hit and what you’re going to hit next.

This season was my first time playing on a team. I got to bond with the other players. It was fun to go out and win the matches. We went undefeated until counties.

I’m looking forward to playing for Cardinal Mooney (this fall). I’m excited to help the school out as much as possible with (golf). The biggest thing I need to work on this summer is my mental game and physically (getting stronger). I’m not as nervous as much as I used to be. I’ve gotten used to the pressure on the first tee.

I’m left-handed and so is Phil Mickelson, so he’s someone I look up to. He’s a good guy. He’s a family guy. And, he keeps his cool on the course as much as possible.

It’s hard to say what my favorite course is, but Old Corkscrew Golf Club in Naples is the hardest course I’ve ever played on. The layout of the course is very tough. There are a lot of hazards and trouble that you can easily find.