Whitney Wade has gone from a little tyke participating in the state high school tournament to a phenom who has won almost every in-state tournament.
But the Glasgow High School junior will spend most of her summer playing in tournaments outside Kentucky.
In fact after Wade finishes her round today in the Persimmon Ridge Invitational Tournament, she'll play competitively in Kentucky again this summer only at the American Junior Golf Association's tournament in Ashland.
''It's going to be a busy summer,'' said Wade, who recently committed to the University of Georgia. ''I'm playing in a lot of good tournaments, and I'm looking forward to it.''
Wade has been in the public eye since the fourth grade, when she became the youngest player to participate in the high school State Tournament.
At 13 she became the youngest winner of the State Amateur, and she followed up with titles the next two years. She also has won high school state individual titles the past two falls.
After playing in eight high school State Tournaments and winning four national American Junior Golf Association events, Wade has been ranked as high as No. 5 nationally in several junior golf rankings. She was a second-team Polo Golf Junior All-American and was a member of the 2001 East Cannon Cup Teams last summer.
''She's really matured over the years,'' said her father, Mark. ''We're really proud of the things she's already accomplished.''
But this summer she wants to do even better on the national level.
Her two-month tour will start in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Memorial Day weekend and end in late July at the U.S. Junior Girls' Championship in New Jersey.
Along the way she will play in eight states.
''I really wasn't going to play that much this summer,'' she said with a giggle. ''But one of my goals is to make the Solheim Cup (in the fall). Plus, I've been playing in some other tournaments and met people. We've become friends, and it's fun to see them.''
Wade won't defend her title in State Amateur because she will be in Hilton Head, S.C., that week for an AJGA event.
''I wish I could play, but I have to go and try some other things,'' she said.
Wade will start the summer a bit unsure about her game. She spent time recently with her teacher, Bob Kramer, in Philadelphia. She said she has tinkered with the upper part of her back swing.
''It's really just minor things,'' she said. ''But with school and finals, I've just been trying to work through them. I'm just going to keep practicing and see what works.
''If they don't work this weekend (at Persimmon Ridge), then I might go back to the old way and worry about them later.''
But the Glasgow High School junior will spend most of her summer playing in tournaments outside Kentucky.
In fact after Wade finishes her round today in the Persimmon Ridge Invitational Tournament, she'll play competitively in Kentucky again this summer only at the American Junior Golf Association's tournament in Ashland.
''It's going to be a busy summer,'' said Wade, who recently committed to the University of Georgia. ''I'm playing in a lot of good tournaments, and I'm looking forward to it.''
Wade has been in the public eye since the fourth grade, when she became the youngest player to participate in the high school State Tournament.
At 13 she became the youngest winner of the State Amateur, and she followed up with titles the next two years. She also has won high school state individual titles the past two falls.
After playing in eight high school State Tournaments and winning four national American Junior Golf Association events, Wade has been ranked as high as No. 5 nationally in several junior golf rankings. She was a second-team Polo Golf Junior All-American and was a member of the 2001 East Cannon Cup Teams last summer.
''She's really matured over the years,'' said her father, Mark. ''We're really proud of the things she's already accomplished.''
But this summer she wants to do even better on the national level.
Her two-month tour will start in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Memorial Day weekend and end in late July at the U.S. Junior Girls' Championship in New Jersey.
Along the way she will play in eight states.
''I really wasn't going to play that much this summer,'' she said with a giggle. ''But one of my goals is to make the Solheim Cup (in the fall). Plus, I've been playing in some other tournaments and met people. We've become friends, and it's fun to see them.''
Wade won't defend her title in State Amateur because she will be in Hilton Head, S.C., that week for an AJGA event.
''I wish I could play, but I have to go and try some other things,'' she said.
Wade will start the summer a bit unsure about her game. She spent time recently with her teacher, Bob Kramer, in Philadelphia. She said she has tinkered with the upper part of her back swing.
''It's really just minor things,'' she said. ''But with school and finals, I've just been trying to work through them. I'm just going to keep practicing and see what works.
''If they don't work this weekend (at Persimmon Ridge), then I might go back to the old way and worry about them later.''
