Higgins becoming a star for PHS golf

Posted 8/13/20

Of all sports, golf is widely considered one of the toughest to master. Between the physical and mental obstacles the game presents, it can take golfers decades to become moderately successful at the …

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Higgins becoming a star for PHS golf

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Of all sports, golf is widely considered one of the toughest to master. Between the physical and mental obstacles the game presents, it can take golfers decades to become moderately successful at the craft.

But not George Higgins. He mastered it in just a couple of years.

Heading into his senior year with the Powell High School golf team, Higgins has developed into one of the best young golfers in Wyoming. The homeschooler constantly logged scores in the 70s as a junior and even earned All-State honors.

This consistency is a drastic change from when he first joined the program.

“George came as a freshman and had zero experience with golf,” said Troy Hildebrand, head golf coach at PHS. “He was one of those kids that didn’t know how to hold a golf club properly. He had no idea whether he’d even like it or not.”

In Higgins’ first year on the team, he didn’t have much of an impact. The inexperienced golfer only practiced during the fall, rather than competing in tournaments.

This slow trek into the new sport may have actually benefited his development.

“I think if I would’ve played in the fall, it might not have been so fun for me,” Higgins said. “I would have been looking for my ball all over the place and having really bad scores and getting discouraged.”

Higgins used the spare time to sharpen his abilities through repetition. He practiced almost every day of his freshman year and played in a few events during the spring season.

After that, he spent the summer playing regularly with one goal in mind — make the varsity squad. And as a result of his dedication, Higgins achieved it.

“Playing a lot in the summer helped me get better,” he said. “I just got more comfortable out there.”

As a sophomore, Higgins’ scores improved and stayed in the 80s and 90s, with an average score of 92. But it was last year where he made an even bigger jump.

Higgins broke out as one of the best golfers in Class 3A, shooting in the 70s or 80s in every event. He averaged a score of 81.7 per round.

Some of Higgins’ other achievements from the season include shooting an even par 72 from the brick tees at Powell Golf Club and earning all-state honors in 3A, finishing sixth at the state tournament.

“These are tremendous accomplishments for someone who’s played for three years,” Hildebrand said. “He’s as improved of a player as I’ve ever seen. That’s a credit to his intelligence, his drive and how he’s wired to continue to improve and work at it.”

Heading into his final year of high school golf, Higgins has a real chance to build on his proficient 2019 campaign. And with his continued hard work over the course of the offseason, that wouldn’t surprise Hildebrand.

“At the top end for George, it would be great to see him repeat on the successes he had last year,” Hildebrand said. “Most people don’t have that inner drive and time to do it, and George has both. His success has been exciting to watch and driven him to stay on that same path.”

Winning a state title would be an incredible feat. Continuing to improve would add to an already-impressive progression.

More than anything, though, Higgins just wants to enjoy his final year competing at the high school realm.

“I just want to have fun and hang out with the guys on the team,” Higgins said. “It’s my last season, so I want to enjoy this time while I have it.”

Powell High School, Panther Golf

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