Virginia Golfer January/February 2014 | Page 21

VSGA Junior Boy of the Year HOMETOWN: Richmond, Va. HOME CLUB: Hermitage Country Club, Manakin-Sabot, Va. HIGH SCHOOL: Junior at Mills E. Godwin High School, Richmond, Va. QUICK TIP: “Approach shots are rarely played on level ground,” Lawrence says. “I’m probably the least mechanical person you’ll ever meet, but when faced with a downhill lie, I’ve found success by setting up with my shoulders level to the ground. The ball will tend to come out lower and a little to the right. Taking the flight into consideration, take one less club and concentrate on hitting the ball first (a common fault is to hit a little behind the ball). I try to keep my head steady and feel like it’s the last thing to release on the follow-through.” RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH PHOTO ARCHIVES IN HIS OWN WORDS: “One of my most disappointing moments on a golf course turned out to be a defining time for me in 2013. In the final round of the Southern Junior last June, I teed it up feeling great and was playing with a lot of confidence. I started off really well and made an early birdie. I was rolling—or so I thought. (Lawrence MARK LAWRENCE JR. owned as much as a five-stroke lead on the last day.) Later in the round, I made a couple of dumb mistakes and on the back nine, I didn’t play the way I was taught to play. I’m normally pretty aggressive in my approach, but I played conservatively, tried to make pars and not lose the lead. It didn’t work out and I lost in a playoff—primarily because I got away from playing the way I normally do. That experience taught me when I’m in contention, I never want to stop putting my foot down on the throttle. You have to keep going and pulling away.” (Lawrence won the VSGA Junior Match Play the following week.) 2013 OFF THE COURSE: At Godwin, Lawrence is involved in youth fellowship group called Young Life. “It’s taught me to be more patient,” he says. Lawrence also supports Godwin athletics by trying to attend every one of the school’s sporting events. Named the Richmond Times-Dispatch All-Metro golfer of the year. ACCOMPLISHMENTS Captured the VSGA Junior Match Play Championship. (Lawrence joined his father, Mark Sr., in VSGA junior championship annals; Mark Sr. won the VSGA Junior Stroke Play Championship in 1976.) Notched a two-stroke victory against a deep field at the Middle Atlantic Golf Association Amateur Championship. Was Godwin’s low scorer in helping the squad to a six-stroke victory at the VSGA Foundation High School Invitational at Independence Golf Club. Finished in a tie for second at the VSGA Junior Stroke Play Championship. When faced with a downhill lie, Mark Lawrence Jr. advises to stay with the shot through impact. w w w