Boulder City youth golfer shines on junior circuit

By Case Keefer (contact)

Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2009 | 3:23 p.m.

Jordyn Syler has already amassed quite a trophy case for someone who’s 12.

Syler, a Elton M. Garrett Junior High eighth grader, has placed in the Western States Golf Association’s junior championship five years in a row in her age group. Two weekends ago, she won the 2009 tournament in the 11-12 year old class in Portland, Ore.

“It was really, really, really exciting,” she said. “I wasn’t expecting it because there was another girl who had won every year. When I won, I was so happy.”

Syler took the lead the first day of the two-day tournament by shooting a 70 on the 18-hole course composed entirely of par-three holes. She easily held on for the title with a second-round 74.

In the previous four years, Syler had finished in either second or third. This was her first championship.

“I was in shock,” she said. “I couldn’t believe it. I was so proud of myself.”

Syler first started playing golf when she was 7. Her mother, Judy Syler, enrolled her in Boulder City’s First Tee program, which teaches youngsters how to play golf and stresses strong academics and community service.

“She had a tremendous swing — an absolutely awesome swing from the beginning,” Judy Syler said. “She just got better and better.”

Jordyn Syler is particularly efficient with her driver. She’s never had any problems off of the tee.

It’s her short game that she says she could still improve. She credits improved chipping and putting for her success in Portland, but said it still has a long way to go.

“That’s what saved me,” Syler said. “But I’m still going to say I need to work on my short game.”

With school starting, Syler said she had no plans for any tournaments in the near future. She still plays every Tuesday and Thursday night at Boulder City Municipal Golf Course and Las Vegas Municipal, respectively, with First Tee.

She said she was looking forward to the practice time in the next few months. Any time Syler is playing golf, she is happy.

“It’s just a fun game for me,” she said. “I love going out on the course and hitting the balls.”

For the moment, the plan is to just keep playing and see where it takes her. Ultimately, she has big goals in golf. “I want to play on my high school team, then hopefully play in college at Pepperdine,” she said.

Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or at [email protected].