Westside High School junior Janie Brown is going to represent her school and Augusta next week at the Georgia High School Association Golf State Championships.
Brown was a low medalist in the 4AA-Region Championship at the Hard Labor Creek Golf Course in Rutledge, Ga. on April 25, playing alongside teammate Leilah Meinen, bringing Westside High to first place, with Brown qualifying individually for the state finals.
“We went up there with confidence,” said Brown, who has been on Westside’s girls’ golf team for three years. “It was a long course.”
Brett Johnson, who teaches P.E. and coaches both the boys and girls golf teams at Westside, attested to the girls’ perseverance.
“It’s pretty hard course… a very hilly, fast green, so I was a little bit nervous for our kids,” Johnson said. “They hadn’t really played in that environment, yet…. They went out there and did a great job, played with a lot of confidence and, and ended up coming out on top.”
Brown started playing golf some nine years ago when her grandmother enrolled her in First Tee-Augusta, a local nonprofit that instructs children in the sport.
“I enjoy golf so much because it’s a mind and body game,” she said, also noting golf’s solitary nature and the opportunities to travel it offers.
This will be Brown’s second year playing for Westside in the state finals, having qualified last year after competing at the Applewood Golf Course in Keysville.
“She’s not a newcomer to this,” said Johnson.
Brown attributes her enthusiasm and motivation for the game to her family’s support and encouragement. Johnson agrees, but also says Brown is “just a great player.”
“One thing that I’ve noticed that Janie can do better than a lot of other players is that she can hit a bad shot and she’s not going to let that shot ruin the rest of her round. So, she’s just very mentally tough,” he said. “If you’re going to be a good player in golf you’ve got to have a passion for the game, and she’s got a huge passion for the game.”
Brown will compete in the state championship at the Okefenokee Country Club in Blackshear, Ga. on May 22.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
