CROWN POINT | Tiffany Curtis may be short in stature, but her maturity level and skills on the golf course are greater than many other players her age.
Just a freshman, Curtis has already proven herself to be one of the best prep golfers in Northwest Indiana this season. On Tuesday, Curtis fired a 38 on a nine-hole round in a match against Portage at Youche Country Club.
Coming in as the number one golfer as a freshman would be a daunting task for anyone, but Curtis has excelled this season.
"Coming into the season, I just figured I would shoot like I did during the summer (mid 80's on 18 holes)," said Curtis, who shot a 78 at the Duneland Athletic Conference meet. "I had some bad rounds in the 90's. I just figured I'd come into the season, help my team and not get too concerned with how I place. This season has really taught me if I do bad, I have to keep fighting for my team and not just my score."
With an attitude of not being concerned of her personal score, that has helped alleviate the nervousness Curtis has experienced as a freshman. She also played in the Northwest Indiana Junior Golf Association during the summer and joined teammate Alyssa Harvey in Kiawah Island, South Carolina, where they played in the LPGA-USGA Girls Golf Team Championship.
"That was a great bonding experience, because we got to go down together," Curtis said.
A golfer since age 3, Curtis has literally been swinging a golf club almost as long as she could walk. Even before she enrolled at Crown Point High School, coach Jon Haas knew what he was going to get out of Curtis, as far as golf skills are concerned.
"She really started hanging around the team last year," Haas said. "At Regionals last year, she went with us. She got to be around the team.
"I had seen her play at NIJGA events. I was not at all surprised with the rounds she's had. She kind of made herself part of the team last year, which made a huge difference and made things easier for her when she came in this fall."
With goals firmly set in her mind, Curtis is aiming high in her first season of high school golf.
"My number one goal is for our team to make it into state," she said.
"I've always dreamed about going to state since I was a little girl."
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