Player of the Year

PALM-AIRE — Alana Kutt is not fazed by the competition.

The Tabernacle Christian School second-grader has spent the last year playing against some of the top male and female players in the state — the vast majority of who are older than she is by almost a year.

But that has not stopped Alana, who turned 8 years old in November, from stepping onto the green and matching them stroke for stroke.

In fact, more often than not this season Alana found herself seated atop the leaderboard.

And, Feb. 16, Alana was named the Little Linksters Tour 2013 Player of the Year for the girls and boys 7- to 8-year-old division.

Alana was awarded the crystal trophy, which is given to the player with the most acumulative points in 12 events over the course of the year.

“I was surprised because I didn’t know how many points I had,” says Alana, who practices on her home course at Palm-Aire Country Club. “My dad never told me, so I was surprised to finally get it. It’s awesome. I (feel) so proud for winning it.”

This is the second time Alana has won the crystal trophy; she won it when she was 6 years old, as well.
In addition to playing on the Little Linksters Tour, Alana began competing on the U.S. Kids Golf Tampa and Orlando local tours in August. Alana has competed in eight events so far in the 7-year-old girls division. She won four events and finished second in the other four.

During that span, Alana recorded seven straight rounds in the 30s, finishing with 17 birdies and her first eagle on a par 4.

“I like playing in tournaments because they’re fun and you get to play with other people,” Alana says. “I like U.S. Kids the best because you get to play with girls and make more friends and stuff. It makes you more used to it.”

Now, Alana hopes to use her tournament experience to her advantage as she prepares to compete for Tabernacle’s middle school golf team.

Alana made the eight-person boys and girls team two weeks ago.

Alana practiced occasionally with the team last year, playing in one match as a first-grader, but this is her first official year on the team. Alana practices three days a week with the team, which is made up of sixth- through eighth -graders, at Waterlefe Golf & River Club. Alana will begin competing for Tabernacle this month, likely as the team’s No. 2 golfer.

“It means a lot to be on the team,” Alana says. “All of the girls care for me whenever I hit a bad shot or something. They are all really nice.”

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].