COLLEGE GOLFER SPOTLIGHT - OLIVIA GIBBS

Blake Davis • June 1, 2018

COLLEGE GOLFER SPOTLIGHT - OLIVIA GIBBS

As many of you know, our motto here at the NTPGA Junior Tour is #WHOSNEXT ®. The NTPGA Junior Tour is well represented by its alumni on the PGA, Web.com and LPGA Tours. Currently, there are 22 former Junior Tour members competing professionally including Jordan Spieth, Cody Gribble, Ryan Palmer, Angela Stanford, Brittany Lang and many more.



But, our #WHOSNEXT® motto doesn’t just apply to future professional golfers. It applies to our former members currently showcasing their talents at the collegiate level all across the country.


In this bi-monthly blog series, we will be featuring former Junior Tour members who are currently playing golf. Every other week we’ll check out what they had to say about their time playing on the NTPGA Junior Tour, and gain some insight into what it’s like to play college golf.


We know it is the goal of many of our current members to move on to play golf in college. Are you the next college golfer? #WHOSNEXT®


Olivia Gibbs - NTPGA Junior Tour Member 2010 - 2014

Senior at The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith

Business - Finance Major

Graduating in May of 2018 (GRADUATED!)



Q: What are your post graduation plans?


  A: I plan on furthering my education and pursuing my masters degree in Operations Management.


Q: How old were you when you became an NTPGA Junior Tour Member?


  A: 13 years old


Q: How did being a part of the NTPGA Junior Tour help or impact your golf game?


  A: The NTPGA Junior Tour provided me with an affordable yet competitive experience that allowed me to grow my game. I also developed relationships with a lot of fellow competitors who I still encounter now, even while playing in college tournaments.

 

Q: What was the biggest thing you learned while you were a part of the NTPGA Junior Tour?


  A: I learned how to compete! Playing golf casually and playing golf competitively are two very different scenarios. Playing on the NTPGA Junior Tour allowed me to develop that other gear.


Q: What is one piece of advice you would give to current NTPGA Junior tour members?


  A: Play as many events as you can. The more you play, the more you learn about the game itself and how you react in different situations. College coaches like to see that you’ve had a lot of experience, along with your consistency and your improvements.


Q: How did the NTPGA Junior Tour help prepare you for playing golf in college?


  A: It prepared me for the format of playing tournaments in college golf. College tournaments have a sort of formality that is similar to the way NTPGA Junior Tour tournaments are run.


Q: Please describe what your personal golf recruiting process looked like.


  A: I had a few college coaches from Texas who contacted me to play for their schools, however I was looking to attend school farther away from home. I found a few schools in Arkansas that I wanted to visit and sent emails to those coaches expressing my interest in playing for their team. I also sent them stats and accomplishments. I visited my top two schools and met the coaches and team members. It is very important to meet your future teammates to know that you will mesh well with them. A dysfunctional team makes for a miserable experience and generally results in an unsuccessful season.


Q: How does playing in college differ from the NTPGA Junior Tour?


  A: Most college tournaments are more than one round, so while you always want to play your best, you have to remember that there is still another round or two that you must focus on. You are also playing on a team so it is important to remember that your score not only affects your positioning in the field, but also your team's position among the other schools.

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By Vincent Lopez • April 4, 2024
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Northern Texas PGA Announces Extension, Enhanced Partnership with Veritex Community Bank

By Molly Rawlins • September 26, 2023
FRISCO, TX – The Northern Texas PGA and Veritex Community Bank announced a partnership extension with support directed towards junior golf and events for PGA of America Golf Professionals. The enhanced partnership will last through 2026 and benefit both the NTPGA and NTPGA Foundation. Veritex has been involved as a sponsor of the NTPGA since 2012. Veritex will support tournaments for the NTPGA’s nearly 900 professionals as a sponsor of the Joyce Crane | Veritex Community Bank Section Championship and The National Car Rental Northern Texas Assistant PGA Professional Championship presented by Veritex Community Bank. Additionally, the NTPGA’s Assistant of the Year will receive a $1,500 bonus from Veritex. Tournaments and events conducted on the Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour will be referred to as the Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour presented by Veritex Community Bank. The Spring, Summer and Fall Series Points Challenges in all three areas (East, Metro and West) will be referred to as the Veritex Community Bank Points Challenges. “Veritex’s core values are truth, transparency, and integrity. These beliefs are synonymous with those inherent in the game, which is why we are proud to align with organizations such as the NTPGA,” said C. Malcolm Holland, CEO and President of Veritex Community Bank. “We support the game at every level, beginning with junior golf, to rising college and Korn Ferry Tour players, and peak with major champions. Providing a foundation for kids to learn, have fun and compete through the guidance of PGA Professionals is a core aspect of that journey.” “The Northern Texas PGA Members, Associates, staff and junior golfers are fortunate to have a partner on our side like Veritex. We are delighted to continue this long-standing relationship that helps the NTPGA in fulfilling our missions of serving the PGA Professionals and growing the game of golf alongside our friends at Veritex Community Bank who have become a major contributor to the game here in North Texas,” said Mark Harrison, Chief Executive Officer of the Northern Texas PGA.

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Bellendir Holds Steady During Round Two of The Ascendant LPGA Benefiting Volunteers of America Girls Championship

By Steven Clements • July 6, 2023
THE COLONY, TX – Alicia Bellendir cards an even-par second round at The Ascendant LPGA Benefiting Volunteers of America Girls Championship. After a 34-38–72 she now leads by two strokes heading into tomorrow’s final round at Golf Clubs at The Tribute. Bellendir once again started off strong with two birdies in the opening three holes. “It was okay today, I started off pretty well, at one point I was 2-under and I kept that up for most of the round,” she said. “I ended with two bogeys because I put myself in bad positions, so I ended up shooting even. It wasn't terrible but it could have been better.” Looking ahead to tomorrow’s final round Bellendir said, “I’m just hoping that I can shoot par, since it's a harder course, not many people will shoot a super good round.” In the final grouping at 9:39 a.m. with Bellendir will be Maelynn Kim and Veronika Exposito. Kim, who is from Katy, is two strokes behind the lead at 7-under-par. She also played in the final grouping in last year’s Championship. Exposito, from The Woodlands, is in 3rd place at 6-under-par after shooting a 67 today. Her 5-under-par round was the lowest of the day. Of the field of 52 players, 31 made the 36 hole cut and will move onto the final round. After playing the first 36 holes of the Championship on the Tribute Golf Links, tomorrow’s final round will be played on Old American Golf Club. It is the host site for the LPGA Tour event and Friday’s final round course set-up will simulate the LPGA Tour event's Sunday set-up. Tomorrow the Championship will once again award an exemption into The Ascendant LPGA Benefiting Volunteers of America on October 5-8, 2023 to the champion. The Ascendant LPGA Benefiting Volunteers of America Girls Championship is supported by Jerry J. Ransom. Tribute Golf Links Par 36-36–72 Yardage: 6,297 yards View current leaderboard HERE

Bellendir Starts The Ascendant LPGA Benefiting Volunteers of America Girls Championship With a Bang

By Steven Clements • July 6, 2023
THE COLONY, TX – Alicia Bellendir of Coppell continued the Independence Day fireworks at The Ascendant LPGA Benefiting Volunteers of America Girls Championship. She fired an opening round 32-31–63, 9-under-par and sits four shots ahead of second place. Starting the championship with an opening birdie, Bellendir never looked back on her way to a career low 63. “I started off with birdie, par and then eagle and then I just was playing pretty well throughout and then I had a row of five birdies and then I had a bogey and then I ended with birdie, par so it was pretty good today.” Bellendir had a strong day on the greens “I was making a lot of putts from 12 feet and in,” she said. This is Bellendir’s third time playing in the championship. She qualified by winning the All American Tour Talley Riggins Summer Showdown by 12 strokes on May 31 - June 1, 2023 at Sherrill Park Golf Course. Coincidentally Bellendir’s previous career low round of 67 came at this event. Maelynn Kim from Katy who finished in 4th place last year is once again in contention. She carded a first round 5-under-par, 67 and sits in second place. 14 players of the 52 player field are under-par after 18 holes. Tribute Golf Links will host the first 36 holes of the Championship before a cut is made to the low 30 scores and ties. The remaining players will play the final round on Old American Golf Club, the host site for the LPGA Tour event. Wednesday’s final round course set-up will simulate the LPGA Tour event's Sunday set-up. This year’s Championship will once again award an exemption into The Ascendant LPGA Benefiting Volunteers of America on October 5-8, 2023. The Ascendant LPGA Benefiting Volunteers of America Girls Championship is supported by Jerry J. Ransom. Tribute Golf Links Par 36-36–72 Yardage: 6,297 yards View current leaderboard HERE
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