Forest golfer Haley Davis shines at state championship
Haley Davis, 14, a freshman at Forest High School, who plays golf on the girls golf team, poses for a photo at the Ocala Golf Club in Ocala, Fla. on Friday, Nov. 19, 2021. Davis placed second in the FHSAA Class 3A girls golf tournament that was held at Las Colinas at Mission Inn last Tuesday and Wednesday. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2021.
Haley Davis, 14, a freshman at Forest High School, who plays golf on the girls golf team, poses for a photo at the Ocala Golf Club in Ocala, Fla. on Friday, Nov. 19, 2021. Davis placed second in the FHSAA Class 3A girls golf tournament that was held at Las Colinas at Mission Inn last Tuesday and Wednesday. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2021.
“I learned that I love the game from my dad,” Davis said.
Scott Davis began teaching his daughter the intricacies of golf when Haley was eight years old.
“He taught me how to play golf and I decided that I wanted to continue to get better,” she said.
The younger Davis qualified for the FHSAA 3A state tournament. She did not disappoint during her first appearance.
Davis shot a three-under par 69 on day one of the state tournament and shot a par 72 on the final day of competition. Her two-day total of 141 was good enough to finish second overall.
Playing in her first state tournament was exciting for Davis.
“Playing in the state tournament was really cool,” Davis said. “It felt like all my hard work paid off during the season, just to be there.”
The pressure of playing for a state championship would understandably rattle most golfers, especially for a freshman competing for the first time.
“The course wasn’t too difficult,” Davis said. “It had some tricky holes, but I wasn’t too nervous because I play in tournaments every weekend.”
Mark Owens, girls golf coach at Forest High School, said that Davis was not phased by the big stage.
“She thrives on competition,” Owens said. “She is mentally tough and knows how to prepare to play the course.”
Owens is excited for Davis’s high school career to unfold.
“It will be exciting to watch Haley compete over the next three years in high school and beyond that,” Owens said.
College is still three years away for Davis, but she expressed her desire to play at the next level should the opportunity present itself.
“I would love to play at a D1 college for golf,” Davis said.
One professional golfer that Davis admires is Tommy Fleetwood. Fleetwood, 30, is a professional golfer on the European Tour.
“I love Tommy Fleetwood’s swing,” Davis said. “It is just perfect.”
Davis credits her father and coaches for her success on the links.
“I want to thank Coach Spencer for getting me to where I am today,” Davis said. “Coach Owens, my high school coach, has always supported me and really helped me get to the state tournament. And I want to thank my dad for always being there.”
Davis will have three more opportunities to capture a state championship. If her second place showing as a freshman is any indication, fans should keep an eye out for her name on the leaderboard.
The Forest High School family and Marion County will be watching.
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