August 28, 2020
BY AAGD STAFF
Locust Grove, Ga resident Ariel Collins is the newest sports celebrity to grace the quiet city that’s just 30 miles from downtown Atlanta. Ariel became the 2020 U.S. Kids Golf World Champion On Saturday, August 1 after winning in her 10-year-old division.
The event was held in Pinehurst, North Carolina and boys and girls from all across the world came to participate.
According to the U.S. Kids Golf Foundation website, it is described as “the pinnacle event for competitive golfers ages 12 and under.”
It was the last day of the 3-day tournament where, on the 16 hole, the young Ariel found herself behind her competitors and in dire need to catch up.
Her strong determination pulled her through, on the 17th and 18th holes and her golfing skills gained her birdies, putting her ahead of all 65 of her competitors to win the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship in her age group. Ariel’s three-day total score was a glorious 10 under par.
“It means a lot to me. It tells me that my work has paid off,” said Ariel. “All my practice that I’ve been doing. I just took it all to my tournament and did it there.”
The tournament was a tough one that could have ended very differently for Airel, yet she is aware that the experience has made her a better golfer and given her greater insight into the powerful mental fortitude that is needed to successfully compete.
“I learned perseverance during that tournament,” said Ariel who has played golf since an early age and has devoted countless hours to improving her golfing skills, practicing both at home, with coaches, and with several golf organizations that she is active in.
Realizing The Win
“I wasn’t in the lead on the 16th hole and I came back on the 18th hole. When I made my last putt, I knew I won. It was very exciting.”
The experience has also shed light on Ariel of her desire to one day play on the LPGA Tour and she realizes that she has a lot more work ahead of her to do so.
“It’ll help me just work harder…when I played, I knew there was more I needed to work on, like my mental game and lots of other things,” said Ariel who hopes to attend the University of Georgia to play at the collegiate level and study computer science and coding.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: “RACE AND SPORTS IN AMERICA: CONVERSATIONS,” with Stephen Curry and Charles Barkley among Celebrity Athletes in Roundtable Special
This was not the first competition for Ariel but it is her first big Championship win in her age division. Airel has competed in the U.S. Kids World Golf Championship since the age of six
“This is the first time she’s ever won the World Championship,” said Ariel’s father, Anthony Collins. “A few times she’s placed within the Top 20, but this was a real big accomplishment. Her mom and I were very proud of her.”
At age four, Ariel began receiving instruction from the Henry County-based nonprofit organization Golfing for Success. This is where she was taught the technical basics and mental skillsets needed to excel at the sport.
Since being active in Golfing for Success, Ariel has become a member of the First Tee of Metro Atlanta. Her parents Tawana and Anthony Collins are extremely proud of the passion their daughter has for golf and see her 2020 win as just one of many more achievements that Ariel will accomplish in her years ahead in the game. The couple currently coach Ariel in her practice routines and prepare her for tournaments.
Since 2018, Ariel has demonstrated strong growth in the sport and has finished in the top bracket of competitions in which she has played. She has also done extremely well while playing in a number of state and local competitions to gain additional experience.
“Now we are at a point where she is a good golfer, where she unconsciously understands the techniques, understands the the style of play she has to do,” said Anthony.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Famed Black Pinehurst Caddie Willie McRae to be Enshrined in CGA Hall of Fame
For Ariel, golf has become more than just a sport; the hard work, long practice sessions, and parental coaching has grown the family bond.
“Our relationship has gotten closer. We’re all together out there as a family. My brother, he supports me,” said Ariel. “My mom and dad go out and practice with me everyday. I can spend time with my family and I can learn more from them. They just help me keep going, they just help me all the way through.”
Although Ariel is only 10 years old, she already has her sights set on attending the University of Georgia to play golf at the collegiate level and to study computer science and coding.
