What a Pleasant Surprise

In 4 short months, first-year golfer, West Ashley High School sophomore Julia Lewis worked her way into the top 5 players on the West Ashley High Girls Golf Team. “Her first attempt at hitting a golf ball was in June during the team’s Summer Training Clinics.  She had a natural swing and I recognized her potential immediately,” says Head Coach Jenna Taylor.
It was never Lewis’ intention to play golf, but Taylor was looking for smart and outgoing girls to give golf a chance. Lewis was encouraged by her English teacher, Mrs. Emily Collier, to give golf a try; Collier even recommended Lewis to Coach Taylor. “She was a little uncertain at the start of the season, but now she has a love for the game of golf,” says Coach Taylor. Lewis said she was surprised when she realized she was actually pretty good at golf.  Ever since then, Lewis has played golf with her dad on the weekends.
When asked how she felt about being selected West Of’s Athlete of the Week Lewis said, “I was surprised because I just started playing and I didn’t expect it.” In the October 13th Region Match, Lewis finished with a score of 117 on 18 holes. This was the 2nd lowest score for the WAHS team and the 8th lowest score out of the 20 competitors. This means she will compete in the Lower State Tournament at The Golf Club at Westcott Plantation.
Lewis gives the credit for her low scores to the practices that she and her teammates have. They practice for approximately 2 hours Monday-Thursday, and she usually stays after for extra practice on the driving range. She focuses on getting used to the clubs and adjusting her swing and grip. “As a focused athlete, she works hard in all of our team drills and especially on the driving range,” says Taylor.
In her free time Lewis likes to hunt and do volunteer work for Shriners. Lewis’ father is very involved in South Carolina’s Division of Shriners and the Dorchester Shrine Club; both are organizations that help raise and donate money in support of children with special healthcare needs.
She doesn’t currently have a job, but she is always working hard to maintain her high GPA. She says that this is her biggest challenge aside from having and showing more self-confidence. She also lives by the motto “never give up” which drives her to give her best effort in all she does. “If you do something that’s not as good as you want, at least you’ll know you gave it your best effort,” she says.
When Lewis graduates from West Ashley High, she plans to attend Clemson University because she’s heard that they have a great science program. She wants to study marine biology or forensic science. Lewis says that she is not sure whether or not she will play golf in college, but she definitely plans to continue playing for WAHS.