For Lindsay High School freshman golfer Ava Thomas, the game is about more than scorecards and swing mechanics. It is an opportunity to honor her faith; her family and the values they have instilled in her.
“Jesus inspires me to be thankful for the opportunities I get and to take the opportunities and use them for His glory,” Thomas said. “My dad also inspires me to get better, and he shows me what hard work looks like.”
Thomas has already begun to turn that work ethic into results on the course. Her personal record tournament round is a 78, a milestone that reflects hours invested in her short game. She said she has focused most on chipping and putting, and it shows in the way she leans on her favorite club.
“My favorite club in my bag is my putter because it’s the club I work well with the most and I enjoy practicing my putting,”she said.
Thomas has grown up playing Winter Creek, which she calls her favorite course because of the challenge it provides.
“It’s a hard course so it makes me better,” she said.
Away from competition, Thomas said she values the relationships that come with being part of the Lindsay girls golf program.
“I enjoy being a part of my team because I like encouraging my teammates and spending time with them getting to play golf,” she said.
In the classroom, the freshman gravitates toward math, and she still remembers the impact her eighth-grade science teacher made.
“My favorite teacher was my eighth-grade science teacher Mr. Jones because he encouraged me and he always
likes to have a good time,” Thomas said.
When she is not at practice or in a tournament, Thomas enjoys playing more golf, spending time with her family, going to church and going shopping.
She said athletics has already taught her lessons she plans to carry beyond high school.
“Athletics has taught me to have a good work ethic and that hard work pays off and will show success,” Thomas said.
