September First Coast Families with Chinese Children Newslettter - Highlighting Alyzabeth

Highlight on Alyzabeth An

 09/08/2014

Northeast Florida is truly a golfer's paradise. Folks come from all over the country to play here. One of First Coast FCC's kids came all of the way from Chongqing City to discover how much she likes it!

 Alyzabeth An Morgan, daughter of Ford and Alyson, was born in September 2006 and met her parents in September 2008. In April of 2010, a gift of toy golf clubs sparked her curiosity. A trip to the driving range and meeting the golf pro ignited her love of the sport. Alyzabeth An's skills grew from putting into cups around the house to playing on real grass. She was mentored and trained by her beloved Coach Doug, who saw her talent and helped it blossom. Her very first tournament in August of 2012 had AA as the youngest playing in a field of five girls. And she came in fifth. Not to be deterred, she played in a clinic in December 2012. Again the youngest, AA teed off from the same distance as the big kids - some as old as thirteen. This time she bested all of them to come in with the lowest score!

Many golfers take years to hit an eagle (coming in two strokes less than par for a hole). In May of 2014, just three years after her first lesson, Alyzabeth An hit a long chip shot that went in - and that eagle contributed to her lowest score ever, a 38, just two over par. Then, this past July, she achieved what many golfers only dream of - a hole in one! And she hit it from the Ladies (yes - adults!) red tees.

Alyzabeth An was not stopping there! On August 10, just a few weeks ago, she stepped up and WON the U.S. Kids Golf Tour Orlando Championship for Summer 2014. This qualifies her for the U.S. Kids Golf Worlds for July 2015 Pinehurst, NC.
And then, on September 7th, she WON the Jacksonville U.S. Kids Local Summer Championship for ages seven and under. She also scored her lowest tournament score of 36 at the South Hampton golf course.

With her daddy Ford as her caddie, Alyzabeth An has won sixty medals and trophies! In her age group, she is ranked fifth in Florida and placed 28th at the U.S. Kids Golf Worlds. She loves being on the golf course and plans to spend a lifetime playing. First Coast FCC can't wait to see what she can achieve!

Submitted by Joan Romano