GOLF PRODIGY TAKES TO THE COURSE

Hall started getting into golfing when she was very young. She swung her first golf club when she was five: one of those plastic golf clubs for little kids.

”I started playing golf because my Grandpa lives on a golf course and thought it would be cool if I played. My Dad helped me start practicing and, yeah, now I’m here. My Dad usually helps to have a focused practice, or I practice by myself.”

She started signing up for tournaments, and her first one was at a Disney golf course when she was eight. She didn’t do particularly well, but she says it was her first one and she wasn’t really serious about golf then, so it was just a fun thing to do.

Hall likes to practice on her home course in Suntree instead of the Savannahs Golf Course because she has a more focused practice at Suntree. Sometimes she practices with Merritt Island High as well. Her commitment to the sport plays a big part in how good she is. She normally hits around 100 balls a day, her average drive is around 230 yards, and, on top of that, she is very accurate.

Hall's inspiration for her golf game comes from a lot of places, including her family. But one of her heroes is Lexi Thompson.

Lexi Thompson has won eleven tournaments, including one major one, the Navistar LPGA Classic.

“I like Lexi Thompson because of her work ethic, and the amount of effort she puts into golfing," said Hall. "That’s why I look up to her.”

Hall really does think she can accomplish those feats too, and with her skills, nobody doubts it.

Hall takes pride in how far she can hit the ball. In fact, in the Cape Coastal, on the first hole, three other girls hit the ball all in the same general area. Hall’s ball was 80 yards ahead of those balls on the fairway. The thing is, Hall is so skilled, but she is not the least bit cocky. In fact, she's focused on what she needs to do in order to improve. One thing she highlights is her putting. “Putting is what mainly lets you shoot low, and if I can’t make putts, I can’t shoot well,” said Hall.

Mr. David Ivey, her coach, is, of course, very enthusiastic about Hall's golf skills. But that is not all: he admires her attitude as well.

”The first time I saw her golf, I immediately noticed that she is well-disciplined, very mature for a 13 year old, goal driven, hits strong, and wants to get better," said Ivey.

Hall has placed well in a lot of tournaments, even those not Edgewood-related. She placed third in the 2017 US Kids Carolina State Invitational in Brier Creek. She shot a 40 on the first day and a 41 on the second day, on a course where par was 36. In the 2018 US Kids Regional PGA Golf Club Invitational, she placed second. She also won the 2020 US Kids Space Coast Girls tournament. All these outstanding performances are just the beginning of something special.

Hall takes her golfing very seriously, and is considering making a career out of it. Coach Ivey sure thinks she could. Hall visited the Clemson Tigers campus in South Carolina, and is already thinking that might be where she wants to go. Hall loves the coach, and she admires the campus. A major college like Clemson would be a big feat to accomplish, but if Hall continues to improve her golf skills, she’s got a shot.

Hall’s potential is through the roof, and she has a chance to make it to the big leagues. It is going to take maturity, discipline, determination, strength, and focus, but she can do it. She’s just gotta keep going and getting better, and her time will come.