Last week Korey Watts  a rising senior at James River High School, practiced golf and he also helped with the Ashley Plantation Junior  Golf Academy. During the past month, the 17 year- old star won major golf tournaments including a real honor  by winning the Junior Hall of Fame and the Men’s Hall of Fame. In golf circles in the SW Va area, that is a gold medal.

Watts has been an all star for the JRHS golf team even as a freshman and has continued to build his game.

He got up every morning, the first week off from school when many of his classmates were sleeping late for summer, and made the 20 minute drive to Ashely. “My family is very supportive. I hope to make it to the US Junior Amateur in in Cherry Hills Community in Colorado. Golf brings me joy and it is fun and it is what I need to be doing.”  In the the meantime he will play in 15-17 tournaments this summer. One of those in Snow Hill NC will be where he qualifies.

Said his mentor and pro at Ashley, Jeff Sprinkel, ” We keep him on par for what he can become. Korey will be a Division 1  player. Already Colleges are looking at him.”

Never say never, but Korey says he wants to be a Hokie golfer. He and Sprinkel have a great relationship and yes, Sprinkel has caddied for Watts. “One day I’ll be out there on the tour with him,” teased Sprinkel.

In the meantime, he is helping out with Junior Golf Academy and practicing his swing and  skills at Ashley Plantation and heads out for a tournament today. Keep his name  in mind for future reference as Korey Watts is going places.