“I feel comfortable with my decision and I am very relieved and excited about moving on to college. I am looking forward to playing the sport I love at my new school,” said Newsome High School senior Jessica Alexander after officially signing her commitment of attending Coastal Carolina University during a ceremony at Summerfield Crossings Golf Club. A talented athlete who enjoyed soccer as her main sport, Alexander started playing golf when she was 12 years old. After a decision to take some time off playing the fast moving game she decided to concentrate her attention on golf, a decision that changed her athletic career for good. She developed a passion and love for golf and has been training with her swing coach, Shane Gillespie of the Inner Circle of Golf, for the pats four and a half years. While her main strength is driving distance (260-280), Alexander is working on improving her percentage of hitting greens in regulation. Her most recent golf highlight was coming in tied for nineth out of 74 women at the Florida State Women’s Stroke Play Championship in Daytona Beach, Florida at the LPGA International Golf Course. “I am so proud of Jessica and how well she has done,” said Alexander’s mom, Caroline, adding, “This game takes a lot of dedication including practices, five-six days a week. There were many times when Jessica couldn’t do things with friends because of having to get ready for a tournament.” While playing the game she loves, Jessica walks in the footsteps of many exemplary young athletes who make sure that education is not neglected. Well liked by all who know her, she is in the top 10 percent of her class at Newsome High School and has a 3.76 un-weighted grade point average and a 5.32 weighted GPA. “I am planning on majoring in Exercise and Sport Science” she said. Understanding that golf is one of those sports one can play beyond college, Jessica is not shy sharing her goals for the future. “I would ultimately like to play golf professionally and my goal is to earn a top playing spot at Coastal by my sophomore or junior year,” she said. For more information about area high school sports and athletic programs, please visit www.highschoolsports.net.
