The fourth annual
WA Golf Lower Your Handicap Challenge is officially complete. More than 2,500 golfers participated in this year’s challenge, which was divided into four flights based on Handicap Index.
Women's Flight 1
350 golfers
Low Starting Handicap: 0.9
High Starting Handicap: 27.3
Women's Flight 2
352 golfers
Low Starting Handicap: 27.4
High Starting Handicap: 54.0
Men's Flight 1
947 golfers
Low Starting Handicap: +2.6
High Starting Handicap: 17.1
Men's Flight 2
946 golfers
Low Starting Handicap: 17.2
High Starting Handicap: 54.0
After playing and posting scores during the challenge window from May 1 through October 31, four golfers ultimately came out on top, earning the title of Most Improved Golfer in each flight.
Meet the winners:
Payton Hammill
Women's Flight 1 – Payton Hammill (Pasco, WA Golf Youth on Course member)
Starting Index: 25.3
Ending Index: 13.1
Improvement Factor: 1.49
“I started golfing about two years ago. At first, it was just a fun every-weekend family thing. After about a year I couldn’t go a whole week without golfing. The beginning of this season I decided to join the golf team at my high school, where I mostly played varsity. Over the course of this season, I have really been working hard to improve every aspect of my game, especially my short game. Which makes a ton of difference. I hope to continue getting better and improving.”
Ali Kemp
Women's Flight 2 – Ali Kemp (Tacoma, Fircrest Golf Club member)
Starting Index: 52.0
Ending Index: 25.3
Improvement Factor: 1.72
“I started golfing last year when I was pregnant and got a hole-in-one on the third hole I ever played at Gaylord Springs Golf Links in Nashville, Tennessee. This summer I broke 100 for the first time with a 94 while lugging my baby around in a golf cart at Fircrest Golf Club. I’ve played every tournament I’ve had time for, taken lessons from the amazing Jack Whealdon weekly and have spent mornings before work on the driving range. I have really fallen in love with the game!”
Austin Burgess, with daughter and son
Men's Flight 1 – Austin Burgess (Chewelah, Chewelah Golf & Country Club member)
Starting Index: 16.0
Ending Index: 4.5
Improvement Factor: 1.70
“This is my fifth year golfing and I have been very fortunate to have been introduced to this game by my wife LaVonne and her family, who are all single-digit handicaps. It has been an honor learning everything I can from them and making it my own game. I would never have been this good without them, and I am still learning. This game will always have something to teach you, if you pay attention. But my favorite rounds this year were definitely the ones I got to spend with my children, helping them learn and develop their games, and watching them get excited about their achievements (such as my daughter shooting her first birdie to help her qualifying for 2/B districts this year as an eighth grader on the high school team). Also watching my 8-year-old son get excited about making a 15-foot downhill eagle putt during our Father's Day family scramble. It is those little moments that keep bringing me back to the course, and help push me to do better and work harder at each aspect of the game.”
Daniel Gravatt
Men's Flight 2 – Daniel Gravatt (Olympia, WA Golf Youth on Course member)
Starting Index: 30.2
Ending Index: 9.8
Improvement Factor: 1.94
“Earlier this year, I made the decision to shift my athletic focus to golf. Although I’ve always been around the game, it wasn’t until recently that I began to take it seriously. Like so many others who fall in love with golf, once I experienced a bit of success and improvement, I was hooked. Through hard work and with the support of my parents and grandparents – who took me to the course almost every day this summer – I was able to achieve many personal milestones and successes. Along the way, I’ve met amazing people who have inspired me and helped me grow both on and off the course. I’m excited to continue developing my skills and seeing where golf will take me in the years ahead.”
