By Marla Jones, Sports Editor
marla@southerntorch.com
FORT PAYNE, Ala.—From a very early age, you could see Elle Patterson driving around Terrapin Hills on her golf cart. She has grown up on the golf course. At the age of four, she started swinging a golf club. She started to play competitively when she was 11. She started out in 9-hole tournaments on the Rome Junior tour and won her first tournament with a score of -53 in 2012. She moved on to 18-hole while on the Alabama Junior Golf Tour and now she mostly plays 36 holes for the Southeastern Junior Golf Tour and the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour.
Elle has played on the Fort Payne Golf team, as the number one spot, since she was in the seventh grade. She is now in the tenth grade and looking for a State win. “ The last two years I have advanced from Sectionals to Substate but I never have advanced to state.” Patterson said. “I missed going by one shot. This year, I want to make state. This is my main goal.” In the future, Patterson wants to play in more national tournaments and attend the college where she can continue to play golf. “My dream is to play college golf and has been since I was a little girl.” Patterson said “ I practice as as much as I can to make that possible.” After college Ella hopes to turn professional.
Patterson said her parents deserve credit on her success. She said her dad taught her everything about golf and her mother was always there to support her.
In 2013 Ella was selected the Player of the Year for U.S. Kids Golf.
Last year, Patterson shot her best score, 72, and won the Twin Bridges Classic. She also won the 54th Bud Burns Dixie Junior at Selma Country Club. She placed third at Fallen Oak Golf Club in a Southeastern Junior Golf Tour event.
This school year, Patterson is working hard to advance to State which will be held May 11-12 at Hampton Cove in Huntsville. She had a great finish Tuesday at Scottsboro. She also recently received an invite to play in a nationwide tournament in Pinehurst, NC. Southern Torch wishes her the best of Luck!!
