Carson City local teen to compete in two international golf tournaments
Local teen golfer Luke Swanson qualified to play in two international golf tournaments this summer including the International Management Group Academy Junior World Golf Tournament and the U.S. Kids Golf World Teen Championships.
Both events bring top golfers from around the world to compete in three day tournaments that test both skill and mental determination.
The IMG Academy hosts 1200 golfers ages 6 to 18 to play one of eight courses in the La Jolla, California area including Torrey Pines Golf Course. The U.S. Kids Golf World Teen Championship hosts 700 golfers ages 13 to 18 to play one of seven courses in Pinehurst, North Carolina, including Pinehurst #2, which is the site of the most American golf championships.
This is Swanson’s second year to compete in Pinehurst.
To qualify for the championships, Swanson had to place first at regional tournaments.
Since age 11, Swanson has participated in several local tours including PGA Jr at Genoa Lakes Resort, Northern Nevada Junior Golf Association NNJGA and Tahoe Truckee Junior Golf Tour.
Swanson then began traveling for tournaments through U.S. Kids Golf, Junior Tour of Northern California and the American Junior Golf Association. These tournaments provide invaluable access and experience to young golfers in northern Nevada and northern California.
Swanson has worked with his coach, Chris Holmes of Edgewood Tahoe, for the last three years to improve his golf swing and course management. Holmes is very supportive of Swanson and knows that he has many more tournament experiences ahead of him.
Swanson graduated as salutatorian from St Teresa’s of Avila Catholic School in Carson City and will be a freshman at Bishop Manogue High School in Reno.