It was something of a trip into the unknown for Ella Kozak as she packed her suitcase, and her golf clubs, and headed to the Maple Leaf Junior Nationals in Kissimmee, FL.
Kozak, who was only 13 at the time, had qualified for the event over the summer, but admitted the trip south was a big one.
“It was a bit of a challenge,” she said, adding the course was completely new to her. “Once I got the practice rounds I was a little bit more confident.”
And of course there was the pure joy of the event too.
“It was fun and exciting,” she said, the adding “I was a little anxious going all the wat to Florida.”
Ella’s father Rob made the trip, which she admitted had its positives and such a tinge of added pressure to it.
“It was nice having him there,” she said, but adding that meant really wanting to play well so that he was happy, which tempered dad being “very helpful and encouraging too.”
The event said Kozak was one where she got in three practice rounds, then playing three where it counted. She said the course “was a little bit different.”
To start with Kozak said the course had no water, and when it came to the greens “they were pretty fast.”
The greens took some getting to use too, said Kozak.
“I did struggle on the greens a little bit,” she admitted.
As it turned out Kozak played better early in the event.
“My first round was great, but it kind of went a little bit downhill after,” she said. “My second round was average. My third round, my short game fell off.
“Overall I played pretty well.”
It was just a hole here and there that cost Kozak, although she said she tried not to let a bad shot wear on her.
“Usually I am pretty good at letting go if I have a bad hole, and not let it get in my head,” she said.
In the end Kozak finished fifth in her category.
“I was happy with that. I was proud of myself,” she said.
For Kozak the golf season is not exactly over, even though the local courses are covered with snow. She will still be honing her skills this winter.
“We’re getting a simulator installed in the basement,” she said, adding the net and ‘grass’ are in place, and they are awaiting the simulator’s arrival.
