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King's Gibson prepared for state tourney

Staff file photo

Last season, Gibson finished with the third-lowest round at the 2A-Region 4 tournament, shooting a 73.

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By JARRETT GUTHRIE

Tribune correspondent

Published: November 3, 2009

King's Kelsey Gibson has been preparing for today for a long time. By her own admission, Gibson, 17, has spent her whole life on a golf course. The daughter of PGA professional Jeff Gibson, who has been coaching her throughout her life, Gibson said she has been playing golf longer than even she can remember.

Gibson has been in Ocala since Sunday working out at Ocala Golf Club - playing rounds, rolling balls on greens and preparing for the Class 2A state championship, which begins today and continues Wednesday.

Gibson spent Sunday and Monday getting a feel for the course and is looking forward to strong rounds as the course plays to her strengths with long fairways and quick greens.

"I think this course really fits me," she said. "It's a little longer than the courses I played in districts and regions and that really helps me."

Gibson said her long driving and game on the green has been her focus in preparation for her rounds at Ocala, which is a par-72 course that is 5,329 yards.

"I'm not the longest girl out there, but I'm up there," Gibson said. "I think a course like this takes out some of those girls who hit it 180 yards and are relying on short games."

However, Gibson's approach to golf is less about the individual swings and shots and more about golf - the game - being engrained in her all her life.

"The only way to prepare is to play," Gibson said. "I grew up on a golf course and I was pushed all my life to go out there and swing hard."

"I'm not a golfer, I'm a player and the difference is when I'm not swinging well, I know how to play and that will get me through."

Last season, Gibson finished with the third-lowest round at the 2A-Region 4 tournament, shooting a 73 at Heritage Isles, but missed the cut due to an FHSAA rule requiring only players within five strokes of the overall leader to advance if they weren't on one of the top two teams. Sickles' Alex Milan (now at Steinbrenner and competing in the 1A state championship also beginning today) shot a 64 and Gibson wasn't able to advance, but this year Gibson said she was focused on her game at districts (which she won) and regions, where she qualified with a par 71 at Heritage Springs.

"It was important for me to make it to states because this is my last year," said the senior. "I felt like this is my chance to make a splash."

Gibson will be one of 13 Hillsborough County golfers competing in the state tournament at four different courses in the Ocala area, all beginning today and concluding Wednesday.

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