Ohio Golf Journal September 2018

JUNIOR GOLF PROGRAMS GENERATE POSITIVE RESULTS 4HOSE HOURS SPENT PRACTICING HAVE RESULTED IN MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIP trophies for Brooks and full- time status on the European Tour for Chase. He attributes much of his success TO HIS JUNIOR GOLF EXPERIENCES IN 0ALM "EACH #OUNTY “I can’t say enough about the Junior Golf Foundation OF !MERICAmS JUNIOR GOLF programs at Okeeheelee. It was on those golf courses and through those tournaments that I fell in love with the game. I can honestly say that I would not be where I’m at today if those opportunities were not available to me when I was younger.” Brooks’ mother, Denise, recalls her oldest son saying, at age 12, that his career goal WAS TO WIN ON THE 0'! 4OUR AND HE FULÚLLED THAT PREDICTION by winning the 2015 Waste -ANAGEMENT 0HOENIX /PEN Much of the credit for Brooks’ initial interest in golf must BE GIVEN TO HIS FATHER "OB A single handicap golfer. “Brooks hit someofmy cut-down clubs from the time he was three UNTIL ) GOT HIM HIS ÚRST JUNIOR SET of clubs at age seven to play in a tournament at Okeeheelee. He liked golf at an early age and started showing a passion for the GAME ESPECIALLY AFTER ) TOOK HIM to the Masters at age eight. He played a lot of sports growing UP LIKE SOCCER ROLLER HOCKEY BASKETBALL AND MOSTLY BASEBALL UNTIL DECIDING AT HE WANTED to focus strictly on golf. I knew HE WAS ALWAYS A GOOD PLAYER but never once dreamed of him reaching the heights of winning MAJORS AS ONE OF THE TOP GOLFERS in the world!” Brooks’ high school golf coach, 'REG 3HERMAN IS NOT SURPRISED to see Brooks succeeding on the pro circuit. “I have had the privilege and HONOR OF COACHING MANY ÚNE young men and golfers during my ten plus years of coaching the golf team at Cardinal Newman High School. There were several that stood out as outstanding golfers with PGA Tour potential. I can’t REALLY EXACTLY SAY WHY "ROOKS STOOD OUT AMONG THEM BUT HE DID (OWEVER ) DID GLEAN "ROOKmS EXCELLENT POTENTIAL for the PGA Tour and success with it when he played in and won the (Florida) state high school golf championship AS AN INDIVIDUAL IN HIS JUNIOR YEAR !T THE AWARDS CEREMONY I recall looking at Brooks and thinking this kid could go really far in golf.” 'OLF PROFESSIONALS -ARY ,EE Cobick and Donna White HAVE STRONG MEMORIES OF A Ohio Golf Journal