Golf

By CHRIS PARRY
Staff Writer

BROWNSBORO — Brownsboro’s Trey Volentine is working on a streak that even Tiger Woods would be proud of.

Volentine, 14, shot a 73 to take first place in a North Texas PGA Ewing Automotive Junior Tour event Wednesday at Wood Hollow Golf Course in Longview.

It was his 12th tournament win in a row.

Competing primarily on the NTPGA Ewing Automotive Junior Tour and Ark-La-Tex Junior Tour, Volentine hasn’t lost an event since mid-June. He’s also qualified for the Legends Junior Tour’s Texas State Junior Championship July 28-30 at Barton Creek in Austin.

Volentine finished first in that qualifier too.

“I can’t explain it,” Volentine said about the current streak. “I know I didn’t expect to. I think it’s just hard work. All those days hitting balls in February, March, April and May. Just going out there knowing what I need to do and doing it.”

The incoming Brownsboro freshman, who is also first chair trumpet in the band and has aspirations of making the Bears’ varsity basketball team, admits to playing at least two tournaments a week, sometimes three.

“There is no telling (how many hours of golf I play each week),” Volentine said. “Maybe 15 or more.”

Volentine takes a couple steps back and eyes the putt. He’s already missed two attempts at this, but a little extra attention to detail enables him to drain it. Volentine reaches into the cup for the ball and begins walking off the putting green toward the driving range at Echo Creek Golf Club in Murchison.

While Volentine practices his putting and driving, his grandfather, Tony Volentine, looks on, just like he’s been doing for the past 10 years. Tony introduced his 4-year old grandson to golf at this same course.

Volentine has played ever since.

When he turned nine, Volentine entered his first tournament. Shortly thereafter was the first of many first-place trophies. His first win occurred that same year in a tournament at Cherokee Country Club (now The Woods) in Jacksonville. Playing nine holes, Volentine shot a 49 to best the field.

This began a family tradition.

Tony, who jokingly refers to himself as the “transportation, food and financial coordinator,” took it upon himself to make sure Trey could compete in as many tournaments as possible.

This translated into two tournaments per week every summer since 2006. Volentine won 11 tournaments last year. He’s already surpassed that mark this summer with five weeks to go.

Tony said his grandson has improved his score each summer.

Volentine averaged 79 when he was 12; 76 last year and now he’s averaging 73. Volentine’s best-ever round occurred last month at an Ark-La.-Tex tournament in Longview. He carded a 1-under 70 at Alpine Golf Course.

“He’s played probably against 300 or 400 different kids,” Tony said. “It’s not like he’s playing the same guys every time. We’ve been averaging 18 tournaments a year for the last three years.”

Volentine said his recent success is due to a change in mindset.

“I just simplified everything,” Volentine said. “In year’s past, I was so worried about winning I didn’t worry about the score. Now I am getting to where I can shoot 72-73 real consistently, and I think that’s the key.

“I mean, I could win with a 79, but I would rather shoot 73 five tournaments in a row than shoot 79, 73, 85 … I may lose on Monday, but if I shoot that score on Thursday, I may win.”

Volentine will look to make it 13 in a row Monday as he competes in an Ark-La-Tex tournament at Shallow Creek Country Club in Gladewater.

: Volentine’s first swing coach was Ophel Caldwell and his current coach is David Cline, who is a pro at Meadowbrook CC in Kilgore … Volentine has already recorded an ace; He achieved the hole-in-one at the age of 11 at Country Oaks Golf Course in Athens … The Ark-La-Tex tour is a summer junior golf tour started by Dick Williams.

ON A STREAK: Brownsboro youngster Trey Volentine has won 12-consecutive golf tournaments.
((Staff Photo By Herb Nygren Jr.))