THE SUN shone brightly over Jekyll Island as Andrew Reeves, a sophomore at The Webb School (TWS), swung his golf club, striking the white ball with a hard thud. A surge of joy filtered through him as he watched it soar through the air and land on the velvety putting green. He could smell the freshly mowed grass and hear the birds chirping from the surrounding palm trees. Reeves ran toward his ball, eager to finish the hole below par. He felt the soft breeze on his face and the sweat forming across his forehead. Lining up his putt, he drew in a steady breath. Feeling the weight of his trusty club and the grip of his gloves around the handle, he adjusted his stance and focused on nothing but the ball. Gently tapping it, he watched it roll toward the hole, disappearing below the surface. Reeves grinned and pumped his fist in the air. He had just earned sixth place in the annual Hurricane Junior Golf Tour and the opportunity to compete in December at the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour National Championship in Orlando, Florida.
TWS quickly recognized Reeves’s skill when he joined the golf team in 2019 and earned the title of Most Valuable Player of the middle school. That spring, he competed in the U.S. Kids Golf Nashville Local Tour, where he placed first for the season and qualified to play in the world championship in Pinehurst, North Carolina. When COVID-19 shut down most sports competitions, instead of taking time off, Reeves continued to compete in several local events and focused on improving his golf score. While in the eighth grade at TWS, he played for the high school team, where he secured several more victories, including placing second at the WillowBrook Golf Course and getting one of the top 20 spots for the state.
“My parents, Jason and Gina Reeves, motivate me to do my very best to succeed, along with my coach, Jeff Mitchell, from TWS, and my swing coach, Jude Lenahan, from The Grove Golf Club in College Grove. My parents put clubs in my hands at an early age, and I started going with my father to play golf. I learned it takes hard work and dedication to be successful.”
As a varsity player for TWS during the 2022–2023 school year, Reeves scored second place at the WillowBrook Sundrop Invitational. Later, he was the low medalist at Indian Hills in Murfreesboro and the low medalist at Riverbend Country Club (RBCC) against Grace Christian with an even par. He led Team USA to victory at the RBCC Junior Ryder Cup, where he served as captain. Tying for second place at the Stones River Country Club, Reeves later tied for first in the district tournament, propelling the TWS golf team to third place. The following week, they finished second in the region, qualifying for the TSSAA state tournament at the Sevierville Golf Club, where Reeves tied for fourth place.
In December, at the national championship, Reeves will play against some of the finest golfers in the country and is looking forward to proudly representing TWS. When asked about representing TWS in the upcoming tournament, Reeves said, “Webb has given me a lot over the years, and this was my opportunity to give back to them.”
Coach Jeff Mitchell frequently tells his golf team to “stop whining and start trying.” Reeves has undoubtedly proven to be a model example of this motivational charge. “Andrew has been a loyal member of the Webb golf program since his sixth grade year,” said Mitchell. “He has made steady improvements each and every year. His most significant area of improvement has been his mental approach and mental toughness. He now thinks a lot about tournament preparation and the proper way to practice. I would expect that we will see continued growth and improvement from Andrew. I look forward to seeing all he will achieve at Webb and beyond.”
With limitless potential in golf and academics, the future shines brightly for Reeves. He hasn’t chosen a college major yet, but he is interested in possibly pursuing a career in engineering, technology, or architecture. “I am passionate about golf. I feel that sports, in general, provide important lessons to prepare us for adulthood. I will keep practicing, playing tournaments, and working with my coaches to develop a stronger mental game from now until December.” GN
