Soda Springs High School's Jayden Parker has been a regular face at the Oregon Trail Country Club since she was 3 years old.
Now age 14 she has qualified for this week's Idaho Junior Amateur at Teton Lakes in Rexburg for her 2nd consecutive year.
With mom and dad both being golfers, it is a sport the family is heavily involved in. Parker was very little when her dad Jeff began teaching her the basics of golf like how to swing correctly as well as golf etiquette.
As Parker grew in the sport, she wanted to push her talents so she began playing in the Idaho Junior Tour in 2021. Her first year was a big learning experience and she found herself pushing to improve in all aspects of the game.
Lessons with Bobby Howell of Pocatello the last few years have provided more insight and consistent growth.
Parker said, “He is a great coach with lots of experience. I trust him to help me fix my golf swing. He knows how to get me to relax when I need to have some fun. Golf can be very mentally frustrating.”
This year has been successful for Parker as she has competed in tournaments across Southeast Idaho.
Parker achieved her personal goal to break 80 this summer, shooting a 79 in two different competitive events and placing first at an individual event earlier in June.
Parker is one of only 12 girls statewide competing in the 13- to 14-year-old division of this week's Idaho Junior Amateur Tournament.
Parker represented the Idaho Eastern golf district well this season and became one of the top two point earners in each of the six regular season competitions as well as in the district championship qualifying her for the Idaho Junior Amateur Tournament.
Each season is another opportunity for Parker to put in the work towards her dream to one day earn a scholarship and continue her golf career in college.
“I’m working as hard as I can while trying to enjoy being a kid too," she said. "I play at least four days a week, but also like to spend lots of time with my family chasing my little brothers at baseball tournaments.”
As an incoming freshman, Parker has some promising years ahead of her competing on the Soda Springs High School golf team.
She is excited to join the program and add to the momentum the team has built the last few years.
She's definitely a player to watch and one has to think her college dreams will come true.
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