East Valley golf school prepares students for competition and scholarships
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Since opening its doors to students in 2009, OB Sports Golf Academy has emerged as fertile grounds for a number of success stories in both the amateur and professional ranks. Most recently, Kolton Lapa, of Mesa, topped 60 other competitors to win the 2012 Boys Arizona State Championship held at Longbow Golf Club on July 2 and 3. Lapa, who fired a final round 5-under-par 66 for a 2-day total of 136, held off Zach Wright by one stroke. Lapa’s impressive final round included eight birdies, all on par 4s. He will be playing golf on scholarship this fall at the University of Nebraska.
“Winning the Arizona State Championship means a lot to me especially knowing that I beat a field of 60 of the best junior golfers in the state of Arizona,” said Lapa. “It was the culmination of a great deal of hard work with my coach, Jeff Fisher. We developed a great game plan, and with his help with my swing and short game, I felt ready to win. I will take this win with me as I move on to compete at the next level for the University of Nebraska!”
Lapa began working with Fisher at the OB Sports Golf Academy in the summer of 2010. Since then he played on the Red Mountain High School golf team, which placed first in the 2011 Arizona State Championship. Lapa earned two second-place finishes on the American Junior Golf Association’s (AJGA) schedule of events. He placed third in the Arizona Amateur Stroke Play Championship, and placed first in the 2012 Tucson City Junior Championship (an event conducted by the Junior Golf Association of Arizona a.k.a. JGAA).
Jimmy Kozikowski, another OB Sports Golf Academy standout, began working with Fisher in 2010 while attending South Mountain Community College. Two years later, Kozikowski was one of five collegiate golfers to win the Jack Nicklaus Award, as the 2012 Golf Coaches Association of America’s (GCAA) Collegiate Player of the Year. The other four awards went to the top players in NCAA Division I, II, III and NAIA. As Nicklaus’ guest for the week of the Memorial Tournament (Jacks’ PGA Tour event), Nicklaus personally handed the award to Kozikowski during the awards ceremony.
“Receiving the Jack Nicklaus Award as the nation’s top community college golfer was the greatest experience of my life, especially since Mr. Nicklaus himself was there to present it to me,” said Kozikowski. “The guidance I have received from my coach, Jeff Fisher, is a big reason why I received the award. We got my game to a place where I felt comfortable and extremely confident, and that allowed me to perform at a high level throughout the entire college season.”
And there appears to be another ace moving up the ranks at the OB Sports Golf Academy. Jake Guess, incoming freshman at Red Mountain High School, began with Fisher in 2010. His most recent accomplishment was qualifying for the Callaway Junior World Golf Tournament in San Diego, California.
“Kolton Lapa, Jimmy Kozikowski and Jake Guess are the epitome of hard working golfers whose desire and work ethic match their lofty goals. Their recent accomplishments speak to their dedication. As an instructor, I am extremely proud to have helped them along their path and know for certain that they will have continued success at the University of Nebraska and Red Mountain.”
In addition to Lapa, Kozikowski and Guess, many other students of the OB Sports Golf Academy have amassed impressive resumes. A rundown of awards and accolade earned in 2012 include:
– First-place finishes on the Gateway, All American and EGolf professional tours
– Four, first-place finishes in JGAA tournaments
– Six, first-place finishes on the SWSPGA Antigua Tour
– A first-place finish on the Golfweek Jr. Tour
– A win at an AJGA TaylorMade Qualifier
– Named All Region in the National Junior College Association of America (NJCAA) Women’s Golf
– Finished top 5 in the NCAA Western Athletic Conference Women’s Championships
– Named NCAA Division II Second Team All American
About OB Sports Golf Academy
Located at Longbow Golf Club in Mesa, Arizona, the OB Sports Golf Academy (OBSGA) is a premier golf-improvement program for players of all levels. Under the guidance of Director of Instruction, Jeff Fisher, and Director of Player Development, Stacie Bryan, the OBSGA combines world-class instruction, state-of-the-art technology with a first-rate facility to provide the best possible learning environment for all students.
Adult programs include private lessons, clinics and complete game makeover packages. The OB Sports Golf Academy is also a leader in the development of junior golfers. Since its inception in 2009, the JUNIOR ELITE program has produced more than 20 college golfers as well as numerous wins on the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA), Junior Golf Association of Arizona (JGAA), Future Collegians World Tour (FCWT), Southwest Section Professional Golf Association (SWSPGA) and Antigua tours. OB Sports Academy students who went on to play professionally have won on the Futures, Gateway, All American and EGolf professional tours, as well as competing on the LPGA, PGA and Nationwide tours on a regular basis. By employing an approach that touches every part of a student’s game – full swing, short game, course management, mental approach, physical fitness and club fitting – the OB Sports Golf Academy is a proven way for every student to play better golf.
About Longbow Golf Club
Longbow Golf Club is a nationally recognized daily fee golf course located in Mesa, Arizona within Longbow Business Park. Often described as the “Essence of Arizona Golf,” Longbow Golf Club serves up a desert golf experience that is firmly tied to the traditions of the game. Designed by Ken Kavanaugh, Longbow is consistently rated top notch by leading golf writers and publications, and was honored as one of the Top 100 Resort Courses in the Country, Golfweek magazine 2009; Top 20 Best Public Access Courses in Arizona, Golfweek magazine 2010; Top 25 Courses in Arizona, Golf Magazine 2010 and has received numerous other awards and top rankings. Longbow Golf Club is Another Daedalus Development. To learn more about Longbow Golf Club or to book a tee time, call 480.807.5400 or visit www.longbowgolf.com.
About OB Sports Golf Management
Longbow Golf Club is professionally managed by OB Sports Golf Management, a diversified, golf-oriented company with a long history of success. OB Sports manages premier golf courses and country clubs throughout the United States. Known for its comprehensive and personalized services since 1972, OB Sports has become widely acclaimed as the leader in boutique-style golf course management. For more information about OB Sports Golf Management, visit www.obsports.com, call (480) 948-1300, follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/obsportsgolf, become a Fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/obsports or check out the OB Sports You Tube Channel at www.youtube.com/obsportsgolf.
Contact:
Jeff Fisher
(480) 414-9330
jfisher@obsportsgolfacademy.com
Kris Strauss
(480) 518-5003
kstrauss@obsports.com
