SHELLY FORD of Jefferson is in Columbus for the state tournament. BILL WEST / Star Beacon
Jefferson's Ford has drive
And Falcon junior can chip and putt, too, as shown by making the state tourney
KARL PEARSON Star Beacon
But nothing could top the feeling Ford had immediately after learning she had qualified and in the 18 hours or so thereafter.
“(Last) Wednesday would be pretty hard to top,” the 16-year-old said. “It was awesome. Wednesday was probably the biggest day of my life.
“It was really something the next morning when I woke up. I had to check and make sure it really did happen.”
In many ways, it seems getting to this point was almost a matter of fate for Ford, starting with the family home is adjacent, which is adjacent to what is now the Harbor Golf Club.
“We live basically right across the street from the golf course,” she said. “It was probably my dad’s intention all along for this to happen. He took me over to the course probably when I was about 7. I’d go over there and hit balls. My dad was probably my first teacher.”
But attacking the sport in earnest came in junior high.
“I really started working seriously on my game in seventh grade,” Ford said. “Then I started taking lessons from (former Ashtabula and Edgewood boys coach) Tom Carr. I probably worked with him for parts of two years.”
She switched teachers once she entered high school.
“Since my freshman year, I’ve been working with Dave Smith over in Erie,” Ford said. “He has his own driving range over in Fairview. He’s probably been the main one to mold me.
“He’s taken my game to a whole new level. Without him, I probably wouldn’t be where I am today.”
Ford believes the best parts of her game are from tee to green.
“My distance off the tee is probably the strongest part of my game,” she said. “I probably average about 230 (yards) off the tee. If I really hit it well, I might get out to 250 or 260.
“I think I’m pretty good with my longer irons and I’m comfortable with up to about a five-wood. I’m confident I can get a five-wood on the green.”
There are still areas in her game that Ford has been trying to address, however.
“I think my short game has really improved this year,” she said. “It’s always been my downfall in the past. I knew I had to work harder on it this year.”
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