7 CSRA junior golfers compete in Vaughn Taylor Championship

EVANS, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - For the last 14 years, junior golfers from all over the country have traveled to the CSRA to compete in the Vaughn Taylor Championship.

This year we have seven local golfers in the field representing Augusta or Evans.

13-year-old Tyler Newsome was on fire from the first tee.

He picked up four birdies on the first nine and was three under through his first 13 holes.

The Augusta native cooled off a little bit down the stretch, finishing round one at one under.

Newsome was the youngest player in last year’s field, and he says the experience of playing in big tournaments like this at such a young age has helped him take his game and his approach to the next level.

“I started off really great. My putter was just on fire, and I just found a way to get it on the green and once I got it on the green, I made those putts that I really needed to make,” he said. “It was kind of my first time doing AJGA’s last year and I feel like it built a lot of confidence for me, and coming into this year, starting off with a strong first round, I think that was just amazing, having the experience last year.”

Evans native Barrett Loftis is also in this year’s field.

Loftis recently graduated from Lakeside High School where he played a major role in the growth of the Panthers golf program, helping them win the class 6A state championship this year.

After stepping off 18, we caught up with Loftis and he told us it took contributions from every player and every coach to get the job done and bring that state title back to Lakeside.

“We had a lot of guys that stepped up this year big. We had a very solid team throughout. We had a really, really solid six guys that played and each number counted. That’s big. That shows that in the future we have guys that can step up and be leaders that they’re called to be to push and win another one,” said Loftis.

“State is honestly one of the best feelings I’ve ever felt,” he said.

Just like winning state, competing in the Vaughn Taylor Championship can be a team effort, especially when you’re playing alongside and competing against some of your friends.

“I think that’s really cool because all of us have different feelings and all of us have played out here. It’s a very familiar course for all of us,” said Loftis. “Having the atmosphere and having the fellowship ability is just wonderful and it just adds to the percentage of love I have for the game.”

Loftis is heading into round two of the Vaughn Taylor at two over.

Vaughn Taylor, three-time PGA tour winner, said: “I just how much I had growing up and I love to try to make the kids now-a-days feel that way, and know that I’m here for them and the community is here for them. I have a golf tournament that we want them to play in and we hope they can get in. I just provides them an opportunity to continue to chase their dreams.”

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