 Head Girls Golf Coach: Shirl LeBaron - Is in his 2nd year as Head Coach of the American Fork HS Girls Golf team, 4th year overall coaching golf. The inaugural year of AF Girls' golf was a tremendous success. The Lady Cavemen finished as Runners-Up in Region IV and was the only team to place 4 girls as Medalists in the Top Ten at Region. At the 5A State Tournament, American Fork finished 7 strokes from a Top Ten finish, besting in all 4 playing groups, Alta and Riverton. Coach LeBaron has a positive student-centered coaching philosophy; emphasizing fundamental skill development, values, discipline, communication and focusing on common goals including sportsmanship and giving ones best effort. Shirl is an alumnus of AF High; having lettered in Golf, Football, Basketball and Track and Field (long jump/pole vault, until he impaled himself on the pole itself, jk)... He has been coaching youth sports, primarily basketball since 1985. His traveling AAU basketball team "Scorch" (now AF Juniors 2009-10); won a remarkable 13 straight Championship Games in upper competition in and out of state, during the boys 5th through 8th grade years (2002-2006). The Scorch (AF) was one of the top two scholastic teams in the state during that time. He is a Certified Coach through the National Federation of State High School Associations, with related CPR and First Aid certification.
Coach Shirl is a local lawyer, (graduating from BYU and LSU Law School); a second term AF City Councilman and currently guest lectures at the High School. Coach LeBaron when not playing golf (year round!, with an 11 handicap and a goal of being a 5....some day) enjoys reading Civil War books and biographies, activities and traveling with his wife Allison (a Family Nurse Practitioner, Master of Science in Nursing) and family. Shirl has 4 children and a miniature red poodle named "Socrates": Children include: Trent (Honors Student at USU, Logan in pre - medical studies) and daughter in law, Mindy (Math teacher at Preston ID High School); Justin (AF Grad, BYU graduate, Symantec SQA Engineer and Medical School Student in 2010); Leah (AF graduate and Medical Assistant in North Ogden) and Tanner, a Junior; two year member of the Cavemen Boys Golf Team and two yr varsity basketball team member, starting shooting guard and state of Utah 3pt field goal leader in 5A basketball in 2009-09 with 52 treys in 21 games. Tanner was AF's leading scorer in 2008-09 and 2008-09 All Region IV 2nd team (Only sophomore to be honored) and All Utah Valley Honorable Mention Basketball Honoree. We are pleased to have Coach LeBaron with his organization, communication and teaching skills at the helm of this program.
 Assistant Girls Golf Coach: Gina Higbee - Coach Gina Higbee is enthusiastic about her second Lady Cavemen Golf Season. Gina Poulsen Higbee grew up in Highland, Utah and unlike many young golfers of today who start hitting golf balls while in diapers, she didn't begin golfing until the age of 12. Her father took her golfing one day and she was hooked. Before long she had her own set of clubs and was playing in every junior tournament in the state.
Gina was twice named golfer of the year by the Utah Junior Golf Association and was a member of the Jr. America's Cup team three times. After playing high school golf for American Fork High School (with the boys team; there being no girls' program), Coach Higbee attended Utah Valley State College. Following two years there, she accepted a full ride scholarship to Idaho State University where she was a captain and played in the No. 1 position for the Big Sky Conference championship team. During her first year at Idaho State; Coach Gina married her high school sweetheart, Wes Higbee and they lived in Pocatello for the first year and a half of their marriage. After graduating from college, Gina decided she wanted to pursue golf as a career and turned professional in 1994. She moved back to Utah and worked at Thanksgiving Point and Hidden Valley Country Club. The Higbee’s then decided to start a family. They now have four beautiful children, three daughters and one son. In July of 2002 she was hired at Cedar Hills Golf Club and closely watched the young course take shape. Gina actually put the first cut on most of the greens, tees and fairways. Gina served as the Director of Golf at Cedar Hills Golf Club until March 2005. In September 2008 she obtained her LPGA Teaching Recertification; graduating with honors and first in her class. She now teaches private lessons, runs golf camps and clinics and serves as a board member for the Utah Junior Golf Association. Coach Gina is currently a member of the LPGA and has a great passion for the game of golf. Coach Higbee loves to play, teach and share that passion with others. We are very fortunate to have Coach Gina Higbee and her skills involved in our program and in the lives of these young ladies at American Fork High School.
Jaxson Taylor, Swing Instructor/Consultant, Manager - Jaxson just completed his senior golf season at AFHS. Jaxon is a four-year varsity golfer, who is one of the best golfers to come out of the school. Jaxson, who is weighing several college options at this time, is a 3 time state golfer and 2-year team captain. Jaxson finished the 2009 season ranked 5th in the very competitive Region IV. His tournament stroke average for 2009 was 72. Jaxson will be assisting the coaches, especially in helping the young ladies with skill development fundamentals. We are thrilled to have Jaxson helping with the program. |