HOCKINSON GRADUATE Gaston De La Torre took part in the Santa Ana Star Casino New Mexico Open, Sept. 18-20, placing tied for 30th, with an overall score of 2-over 212.
For every aspiring golfer who goes to their local course to put in a round on the weekend, there’s a couple who actually have enough game for a run at the big time.
Some golfers don’t always make it to the greens at Augusta or Pebble Beach on the PGA Tour, but in the case of Battle Ground native Jason “J.T.” Watson, he’s content teaching the game as much as playing it.
Across the country in Myrtle Beach, SC, Watson joined 36 fellow students from Golf Academy of America, earning an associate degree in Golf Complex Operations and Management during graduation ceremonies on Aug. 17.
“These students put in a lot of hard work and all of them are now well prepared to step into their golf career opportunities anywhere in the country,” said Jim Hart, Jr., Myrtle Beach campus director. “Our students are some of the best trained and most knowledgable golf career professionals in the industry.”
Two days later, Watson and fellow graduate John Snyder made the trip to Orlando, FL, to be interviewed for positions at the Edwin Watts Golf Academy as teaching professionals.
“We ended up being hired a few days later, then had to pack up our stuff, move out to Kansas City, and that’s where we’re at now,” Watson said. “It’s pretty surreal how it’s all panned out, but I’m loving it so far.”
With his wife of five years, Joly, Watson considers himself very lucky to be able to pursue his passion, even if he’s not going to give Tiger Woods a run for his money just yet.
“I always thought I was built more for being a teacher than a player,” Watson said. “I’ve worked with people from ages 8-to-72 and it’s so rewarding to see golfers who want to improve actually be able to do it.”
While he ultimately sees himself being a collegiate coach, Watson is working on his PGA Tour membership and will enter into local tournaments to further hone his skills. Being of Scottish ancestry, he’s hoping someday to step on the hallowed fairways of St. Andrews, considered the birthplace of golf.
“It’s incredible to think that with my family roots based in Edinburgh, some of my relations may have been the first to ever play what we consider to be the gentleman’s game,” Watson said. “That would be a real thrill for me.”
Being in the southeast, Watson had a chance to already play on one of the more popular and reknowned courses in American golf, the TPC at Sawgrass and it’s legendary 17th hole “Island Green.” It ended up proving every bit as mythical a challenge as he’d been told it was.
“It looks so easy. Just a simple 9-iron or wedge and the friend I was playing with dropped his approach just a few feet from the pin,” Watson said. “Then I got up there and hit what felt like a great shot and it ended up being two yards short and got wet. I got really mad at myself about it at first, then remembered this was one of the hardest holes in all of golf, so I couldn’t get too upset since I was there playing it.”
Going forward, Watson’s keeping his eyes on the qualifying schedule for the 2013 U.S. Open, but for now is quite content with where he’s at.
“It’s crazy being a guy from a small town like Battle Ground and going across the country to pursue my dream. But it’s even better to realize it and enjoy it,” Watson said.
De La Torre plays at event
Hockinson High School graduate Gaston De La Torre competed in the Santa Ana Star Casino New Mexico Open Sept. 18-20 at the Santa Ana Golf Club.
After carding a first round even-par 70, De La Torre stumbled on day two with a 2-over 72, before wrapping up with another even-par 70 on the final day.
De La Torre finished in a four-way tie for 30th place at +2, 14 strokes behind tournament winner Will Collins, who carded a final round 6-under 64 to finish at -12 overall.
A four-year letter winner at Hockinson, when he was named the 2006, 2007 and 2008 Region Player of the Year, won the league and district championships as a freshman, and won the state championship his final three years. De La Torre also played for three years on the New Mexico State Aggies men’s golf team, while majoring in government. He was a second team All-WAC selection twice and helped the Aggies win three of their four consecutive WAC titles.
“We were very excited that Gaston De La Torre competed in the 2012 Santa Ana Star Casino New Mexico Open,” said Roger Martinez, chief executive officer at Santa Ana Golf, Inc. “We had some of the nation’s top professional and amateur golfers challenged by the incredible course conditions and unmatched level of play.”
