Fast track to the top

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY GIRLS GOLF PREVIEW: Christina Gray's work to develop "God-given talent" has Tampa Prep thinking big.

By TERRY JONES
Published August 18, 2005

TAMPA - Five years ago golf was a strange game to Christina Gray. Now it seems strange to think of Gray without golf.

When she started hitting shots on a whim around Rogers Park Golf Club all those years ago, it didn't take long for the bug to take hold: partly because she was pretty good at it from the start.

"One of the coaches told me I had a God-given talent and I should spend some time working at it," she said.

She's worked hard ever since, and heading into her junior season at Tampa Prep, she's rated among the best in the state.

Last season she led the Terrapins to their first state tournament where she placed sixth as an individual and helped her team place 12th.

Coach Richard Veghte believes Gray, along with eighth-grader Kelsey Gibson and some new golfers can easily break the top 10 at the state tournament and perhaps challenge for a spot in the top five.

As a freshman at Wharton, she earned the No. 1 position but was unable to get to the state meet as an individual or with the team.

"I was used to competing in big tournaments around Tampa and Florida, but it was always just me, my clubs and a scorecard," she said. "Team golf was a new thing. I learned more of the importance of the team concept in high school golf at the state tournament last year. I realized I needed my teammates."

When she finished her rounds at the state tournament last year, she would go back to encourage her teammates still playing.

She says during her freshman year at Wharton a lot of her focus was on her academics. In preparation for college, she took honors courses and admits she had some struggles at times.

By the time she got to Tampa Prep, although academics were even more of a challenge, she said she had lots of help from the teachers, who helped her improve her grades.

"Academics are top priority at Tampa Prep and the teachers work extra hard to help me and classmates to understand what I am doing," Gray said. "In my first semester last year, I made two A's and three B's, then in the second semester it was three A's and two B's. Plus my golf has been getting better."

She completed the year on the honor roll with a 3.6 GPA, and on the course earned the status of team captain, a position she enjoys.

"We have at least four players, who are highly competitive and skilled," she said. "We help each other with tips and encouragement. We all realize the importance of being there for each other and I can say I will do everything I can to make our team the best possible."

Gray spends hours nearly every day improving each aspect of her game.

Veghte, the pro at Westchase Golf Club, sees a bright future for Gray.

"She is a very good putter, but her strength is her long shots," Veghte said. "She easily shoots 250-260 yards. She is also aggressive on the course, going for the hard shots. Perhaps one reason she does so well and continues to improve is she is just a great athlete. She also runs track for Tampa Prep."

She is already getting letters from colleges interested in her athletic skill on the next level. She hopes to go to college and play at that level, but right now she is focused on two more years at Tampa Prep.

[Last modified August 18, 2005, 01:05:19]