High school golf is not a sport on most students’ radars.  Without the support of sports like football or basketball, athletes have to rely on strength from within.

For junior Mitchell Porter, this is perfectly fine.

“I really like the sport because it’s a lot of pressure on yourself,” he said.

Porter is one of two golfers who qualified for State. To get there, he focused on his mental and short-game. 

“I was either going to be on the greens or right around them, so I knew had to chip and putt well,” he added.

No matter the skill, golfers had to face wet conditions this week after last week’s constant rain.

“I played well for the conditions and it was wettest I have ever played in,” he said.

Porter went on to shoot a 76 in the practice round, giving him confidence going forward.

If it comes down to the wire, Porter is no stranger to a clutch finish. During the regular season, the golf team had a one point victory against Kirkwood and a two point victory over Parkway South.

“I shot one stroke behind the top two players in state both matches, [which] takes a lot of strategy and practice,” he added.