 Wesley
Graham has proven he can play with the big boys. A
two-time Florida Boys Junior Champion (13-15 age division),
Wesley recently advanced to the quarterfinals of the
U.S. Junior Amateur Championship and now gets ready to
compete in the U.S. Amateur Championship at Hazeltine
National GC later this month.
Wesley, 16, has lived in Port Orange, Florida his entire
life. Growing up in the small town outside of Daytona
Beach, Wesley was introduced to the game by his father
at the age of seven. He began practicing more and by 12
was playing competitively. Now, Wesley can be seen
practicing just about every day at Cypress Head or
driving to Ormond Beach to work with his coach. “Golf is
part of me,” says Wesley. “I like to play so much that I
have to do it everyday.”
Wesley is an active competitor on the Florida Junior
Tour (FJT) where he has won two events and placed in the
top 10 eight times. “The FJT has opened a lot of doors
for me,” he says. “It has also given me a lot of
confidence.” Wesley won the 13-15 age division of the
Florida State Boys Junior Championship in 2004 and 2005
and this year placed in the top twenty in the 16-18 age
division.
After earning medalist honors at Eagle Creek GC to
advance to the U.S. Junior Amateur in California, Wesley
won three matches before losing in the quarterfinals to
last year’s Champion Kevin Tway 2 and 1. “It was a great
experience,” says Wesley. “It was the strongest field I
ever played, but I knew I had the game to play with the
top players in the country.”
Wesley arrived in California without a caddie so he was
paired with a 12-year-old named DJ. Wesley and DJ formed
a bond like no other. “Here was this short little guy
who knew so much about the game,” he says. “DJ had the
biggest smile on his face after I won each match but
then when I lost I think he was more disappointed than I
was.” Wesley left such an impression on DJ that DJ’s dad
told the Graham family that DJ is going to stop other
activities and fully commit his time to golf and
bettering his game. Wesley and DJ have a pact that if DJ
ever makes it to the U.S. Junior that Wesley will caddie
for him.
Next up is the U.S. Amateur Championship at Hazeltine
National GC in Minnesota. Wesley claimed the final
qualifying spot at Orange County National winning a playoff over Sam Saunders.
Wesley birdied the 9th hole after hitting an amazing 40
yard bunker shot to just 3 feet from the hole. “I just
hope to keep doing as well as I can. I want to go on to
college and then turn professional.”
Track Wesley’s results at the U.S. Amateur by
clicking here. |
