By Esther Cui
Amid the lush greenery and beautiful oceanic vistas of Pebble Beach, California, two TPA golfers, Noah Quiros and Jay Nergard, recently attended the prestigious PURE Insurance Championship, achieving top 20 in the Nation!
This five-day event, a nationwide competition for junior golfers, gave them an opportunity to play alongside the professionals, testing their skills on a course known for its beauty and challenge.
Noah, who started playing golf at the age of 8, finds his passion for the sport’s engaging nature: “When you have a shot in mind, and you… (hit it) just perfectly.”
For Jay, the allure of the game lies in the mastery of the perfect swing; when you hit the ball just right, it goes flying straight where you want it.
Their dedication is evident in their exceptional practice regimen – more than 14 hours a week. So, when it came to the PURE Insurance Championship, both golfers were well-prepared. Jay’s more than three hours of daily practice paid off: “I definitely prepared good. … I was ready to go,” he said. This level of dedication is what sets these young athletes apart from others in the nation.
One of the tournament’s most thrilling moments came during the closest pin challenge, a test of accuracy and control where golfers aim to land their ball as close to the pin as possible from 130 yards away! Noah and Jay excelled in this challenge, with Jay describing their standout performance: “We got it the closest at 6 inches.” This feat not only highlighted their precision under pressure, it also served as a clear display of their skill and the effectiveness of their training.
The tournament wasn’t without its challenges, though. For Noah, the coastal winds were a difficult obstacle to overcome. “(The course was) right along the ocean … and the wind affects the ball a lot … so you have to adjust your stroke to that,” he said.
Jay’s main takeaway was learning to play in more-humid conditions, noting that the ball travels a shorter distance in such environments. These insights increase their competition experience and are invaluable for their future in the sport.
Both Noah and Jay have set their sights high, both wanting to continue competing in college. Jay specifically aims to join the team at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Their journey ahead includes participating in the state championships in the Spring and future college tournaments, a pathway both are excited about.
They strongly encourage those who have an interest in golf to join the TPA Golf Team. You may have opportunities to compete in state and national tournaments. Not only that, golf is something you can enjoy throughout your life. To those with similar goals, Noah’s and Jay’s advice is straightforward: practice, and then practice some more.