Plant City High School golfers are competing in as many summer tournaments as possible, and several have been doing well. One example is incoming junior Savannah Kummelman, who’s recorded three top-3 finishes and will be one of 96 golfers from around the country attending a Minnesota leadership academy in July.
You’ve been doing well in the tournament circuit this summer, and I know you just finished one on Monday. How did you do there?
I finished in second place, with a 96.
And I hear you recently won a tournament, too.
I got first place at Grasslands, with an 89, and then I got second place at Schalamar Creek with an 87.
And you’re doing some more big things this summer?
I’m really happy about this whole summer. I got accepted for a leadership convention in July to go to Minnesota. I’m one out of just 96 people in the United States going. Big shout-out to the First Tee of Lakeland for helping me out with that. And John Copeland, especially, because he’s my swing coach and got me where I am today.
How did you get that opportunity?
I’m a junior coach at the First Tee of Lakeland, so on Tuesdays and Thursdays I’ll go there and assist with teaching the kids. They nominated me, I applied, and I got selected.
How many tournaments are you looking at this summer?
A lot. I think I’m only missing one, and that’s a two-day tournament, but that’s when I’m gone for Minnesota. I have a lot — usually every Monday, I have a tournament.
So you won’t be rusty at all going into the high school season. What are your goals for junior year?
I hope to be in the 70s, for 18 holes, and 30s for nine. I hope to be up in the top five at districts.
And last year, when I talked you for a different story, you said the team “dominated” there. Is that the goal again?
Yes, we are going to dominate as well this year. I’m excited. I think everyone’s really excited. I think the girls and boys teams are going to be really good this year.
Do you play any other sports?
Just golf. I’ve probably done everything, all of the basics: karate, basketball, soccer, softball. I think I finally found something I love, and I’ve been doing it for almost six years now. I’m gonna stick with it.
What was it about golf that made you want to stop everything else and focus on this alone?
I think, once I got really close with my swing coach, I finally found it. It’s a one-person sport: You don’t have to rely on anyone, it’s just you. It’s not you against someone else, it’s you against the course. Thaat’s a really big thing for me. I’m independent, I like to be alone and I’m quiet, so it’s definitely something that just caught my eye. Once I got good at it, I thought, “This is something that would be fun.”
Is there any sport you’ve wanted to try, but never got around to?
I’m kind of addicted to hockey right now, so I would love to try hockey. I don’t know how I’d do on the ice. I’m not the most graceful person.
When you’re not on the course, teaching or playing, what do you like to do for fun?
Really, just hanging out with friends, listening to music. Oh, and scuba diving. I love to scuba dive.
How long have you been diving?
I got certified last summer, and I went scuba diving in September.
Where’s your favorite place to go?
We usually go to Key Largo, and last time we went, we did a deep dive at a really cool ship. I’d love to go back, because we didn’t get a lot of time underwater. I’d love to go back and finish the whole dive tour.
If you could play any golf course in the world, what would it be?
Augusta, in Georgia. The Masters course.
What do you think is the coolest thing you’ve done on a golf course?
Well, yesterday (Monday, June 16) I almost had a chip-in for birdie. And I almost made a hole-in-one at Grasslands. It was hole 10, a par 3.