Two young golfers, Makenna Rodriguez and Leiahnni Smith, had the opportunity to play in the Pro-Am at the Aramco Team Series, Ladies European Tournament (LET), Florida event presented by Aramco. They represented Women of Color Golf (WOCG) and the mentoring program Girls on the Green Tee (GOTGT). The program aims to introduce young girls to golf and promote leadership development, self-esteem, and healthy habits. The golfers expressed their gratitude for the experience and the chance to learn from Johanna and be part of such a wonderful tournament.
Makenna and Leiahnni had the privilege of playing alongside Swedish LET professional Johanna Gustavsson, who achieved an impressive third place in the 2022 Race to Costa del Sol and was a winning team captain last year.
Joined by Vasti Amaro, an Advisory Board Member for Women of Color Golf (WOCG), the trio proudly represented both WOCG and their mentoring program, Girls on the Green Tee (GOTGT). GOTGT is specifically designed to introduce girls aged 10-17 to the game of golf while fostering leadership development, self-esteem, and instilling values such as respect, honesty, and responsibility.
Clemmie Perry, Founder & Executive Director of WOCG and GOTGT, said: “It was such a pleasure to have our minority students play in the LET Pro-Am at the Aramco Team Series – Florida and it was an experience of a lifetime to bring them here and we want to thank you for the opportunity.
Leiahnni, a College Women of Color Golf Ambassador from Edward Waters University, described the experience as amazing and unique, gaining valuable insights from Johanna while enjoying her caddie’s company. She said: “Yesterday was an amazing experience. For me to be able to see what a golf tournament is like on the other side of the spectator rope was a very unique experience.
“Johanna was very fun to play with, she gave us lots of tips and advice. I also enjoyed her caddie; he was really nice and fun. Overall, this was an experience of a lifetime and I’m very blessed to have this experience and am looking forward to the rest of the week.”
Makenna, equally grateful, praised Women of Color Golf for granting her the opportunity to play with LET professional Johanna, highlighting the enlightening conversations about the game, mindset, and the experiences of being an athlete and a woman in the field. “I am eternally grateful for the opportunity that Women of Color Golf gave me to be able to play with a professional LET player. Especially one as embracing and wonderful as Johanna, she truly enlightened me about the game, her state of mind and moving forward as an athlete and a woman in this field,” said Makenna.
In an exciting addition, Makenna’s sister Morgan also joined the Pro-Am day and had the privilege of walking alongside and experiencing the round with Johanna. Morgan described the experience as surreal, sharing the same head game and golf game as the pros. She expressed gratitude for the fun and inspiring time, acknowledging Johanna’s talent and the opportunity to receive tips and share her own goals and aspirations.
Overall, this memorable experience allowed the young golfers to witness the professional golfing world up close, learn valuable lessons, and connect with an accomplished LET player. They expressed their appreciation for the opportunity, emphasizing how blessed and fortunate they felt to be part of such an extraordinary event.
To support their mission, contributions can be made online or mailed to: Women of Color Golf, 700 S. Harbour Island Blvd., Unit #424, Tampa, Florida 33602.
To learn more about Women Of Color Golf and Girls On The Green Tee visit https://www.womenofcolorgolf.org and https://www.womenofcolorgolf.org/girls_on_the_green_golf_tampa_fl.html
