Page 17 - 2019 Golf Guide

Expanded LPGA television coverage gives junior girls role models to watch, then emulate on the course,” says Heien. “And the quality and quantity of junior programming in the region is continuing to grow and improve for both beginners and elite competitors.”
Many of the girls credit organizations like the First Tee of Delaware for providing support to help them grow their game. “The First Tee gave me my start golfing,” says Carroll. “I give special thanks to my mentors Charma Bell, Karen Hart, Becky Dengler, and Bill and Kim Allen. They didn’t just teach me how to become a better golfer, but also a better person.”
The Delaware chapter was recently honored as the First Tee’s first recipient of the “Growing the Game for Girls Golf” award, besting 150 chapters nationwide. In 2018, the First Tee sent Carroll and Quickel to play in the 2018 PURE Insurance Championship, an official PGA Tour Champions event played in California at Pebble Beach and Poppy Hills. In the nationally televised event, each girl was paired with a PGA Champions Tour player. “My greatest golf moment was when I made an
eagle on the 18th hole at Poppy Hills,” Carroll gushes. “It was also nice to get a fist pump from Bernhard Langer after I made the putt.”
Rylie Heflin
Quickel treasures “playing the 18th hole at Pebble Beach along with Steve Pate, and finishing the round in front of a crowd and television cameras.”
“They both realized they are capable of competing against anyone nationally,” says Bob Norris, executive director at the First Tee of Wilmington. “It has been huge for their inner confidence.”
As the golf coach at Tower Hill School, Kathy Franklin has had plenty of time to reflect on the collective success of junior golf in the state. “We’re seeing many high school girls in Delaware who are exceptionally good golfers,” she says. “They work hard at it, and they deserve every accolade they receive.”
To learn more, visit dsga.org.
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