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All of the best golfers in the world started somewhere, and for many that somewhere was high school golf. Junior golf tours get much of the attention these days, but the accomplishments these players had for their schools and in their states are impressive, and no doubt led to where they are today. Here are some interesting statistics and accomplishments from the high school careers of some of the top PGA Tour players.
Jordan Spieth
- Three time 5A state champion
- Played in the 2011 Byron Nelson Championship and missed his high school graduation
- Played on the 2011 Walker Cup Team
- Video: Jordan Spieth reflects on his experiences at Jesuit with Alumni Director Chris McCarville
Rickie Fowler
- Most decorated player
- Freshman- 10 under 62 to win the Southern California Golf Association Regional Qualifer
- Sophomore- 8 under 64 and won the CIF-SS Individual Championship
- Led the Murrieta Valley Team to the first back to back CIF-SS team championship
- Won as an individual at all levels: Regional, Section and State
Dustin Johnson
- Led the team to the Class 4A State Championship in 2003
- Senior year finished 4th as an individual at state
- Senior year finished 19th in the nation
- Played on the All Tournament team in every tournament during his senior year
Bryson DeChambeau
- Bee’s Boy Golfer of the Year
- Tied ninth at the state championship his junior year
- Tri-River Athletic Conference MVP
- Lowest score average
- Freshman: placed 2nd at the North Area Tourney
- Sophomore: won the North Area title and placed 4th in the individual tourney
Phil Mickelson
- Qualified for the Shearson Lehman Hutton San Diego Open and Los Angeles Open
- In January 1991, Mickelson became only the 6th Amateur to win a PGA Tour event – the Northern Telecom Open in Tucson, AZ… the most recent amateur to win a PGA Tour event
Patrick Reed
- In 2006 as a freshman led University High to a state championship
- They won again the following year due to Reed’s 65 which allowed him to take the individual title.
Bubba Watson
- Video: Before they made their way to the PGA TOUR, Heath Slocum, Bubba Watson, and Boo Weekley all graduated from the same high school in the small town of Milton, Florida.
Tiger Woods
- CIF individual champion in 1991,1993, and 1994
- Orange County League MVP all four years
- Won the Dial Award as the top male athlete in the US for the year of 1993
- As a sophomore played in the Los Angeles Open as one of the youngest players to compete at 16
- Video: As a senior at Western High School, Tiger Woods sits down with Paul Higgins to discuss his success at an early stage and what the future holds.
Jimmy Walker
- Named all state and team MVP all 4 years
- Finished in the top 10 each year at state level
- 3rd Junior year
- 2nd Senior year
- Four time Region 4-4A champion
- Three time district champion
- Won a total of 21 high school tournaments
Keegan Bradley
- Shot 69 and won the individual championship his senior year
- Won the MIAA Division 2 individual state championship
- Was teammates with Jon Curran
Zach Johnson
- Played #2 for Regis High
- Contributed to winning the Iowa 3A state championship in 1992
Webb Simpson
- One of the nations top prep golfers
- Three time Cap-7 Conference Player of the Year
- Three time team MVP
- Set a new low scoring average each year of high school
- Won the 4A individual championship in 2004
Bill Haas
- Won the South Carolina High School State Championship both his junior and senior year
Smylie Kaufman
- 6A state championship runner up during his senior year
- Posted a scoring average of 71.7 strokes per round during his senior year
Matt Kuchar
- 95 and 96 Central Florida Player of the Year
- 1992-96 all conference and all district selection
- 1995 and 1996 Florida 6A District 4 medalist
- 1996 Seminole County Player of the Year
Justin Thomas
- Two time team state champions
- High school individual champion
Xander Schauffele
- 2011 CIF individual title
- CIF San Diego section and Western League Player of the Year
Patrick Cantlay
- 2010 State Champion
- 2009 and 2010 CIF Regional Champion
- 2010 Trinity League Champion
- 2010 Trinity League Athlete of the Year
Charley Hoffman
- Inducted into his high school hall of fame for golf
- Won the California State High School Championship in 1994 and 1995
Ryan Moore
- Won the Washington Individual state title as a senior
- Was on the varsity team all 4 years
Billy Horschel
- Was the Space Coast Golfer of the Year in 02 and 03
- Finished T5 at the 2004 state championship
Gary Woodland
- Four year varsity letterman in golf
- Named to the All-City Golf team
Luke List
- Part of the 2001 state championship team
- Won the individual state championship in 2001 and 2002
- Won the Lewis West Oehmig Award for the MVP for all 4 years
- Team captain
Kevin Chappell
- Four time all league and all city selection
- Two time all CIF selection