By Ember McElrath
Westmoore High School sophomore Makayla Been has been competitive in golf since she was 12 years old.

“I got into golf because my dad played and he influenced me to start,” Makayla said.
Not only is her dad one of the main reasons she started playing golf, but he is also one of her favorite parts of the sport.

“My favorite part of golf is spending time with my dad and teammates on the golf course,” said Makayla.

Golf might seem like more of an individual sport to some people, but for Makayla, her teammates mean a great deal to her and are a major part of her life.

“My team means a lot to me because they are a big support system and we always have a
lot of fun,” Makayla said.
Her teammates are not the only people counting on Makayla. Her coaches think highly of
her as well and think she is an underclassman to watch out for in the upcoming years.
“Makayla went to state with our varsity team last year as a freshman. Currently she is our three bag and playing some of her best golf to date.”

For a young athlete it is important to have the support of your coaches and being
recognized for your talent can give athletes a great confidence boost as well.

“It makes me feel great to know that my coaches see my potential as an underclassman and how I contribute to the team,” Makayla said.

Being a sophomore gives Makayla a lot of time to accomplish her golf goals and Makayla has some great ones, but while she sets her goals high she also has some great stepping stones to look back on as well.

“My goals for golf are to win a highschool tournament, place top five at state, and get a golf scholarship,” said Makayla.

Making progress toward her golf goals, Makayla’s biggest accomplishments so far are shooting a 73 at the Trosper Golf Club, winning a playoff at the Westwood Golf during the U.S. Kids Tournament, making varsity when she was just a freshman, and lastly going to State.

Being an athlete as well as an underclassmen it can get difficult to handle the pressure at times, but for Makayla she simply takes it one shot at a time.