Today, I was given the opportunity once again to become a student media correspondent for the East Lake Foundation. I had an amazing time meeting new people, seeing familiar faces, and witnessing the esteemed HOPE Tee Shot. This is an incredible opportunity where First Tee of Metro Atlanta participants get to signal the start of the TOUR Championship with an opening tee shot.

I started my day off with my teammate Justin, where we walked around the course to film social media content and a preview of the day to come. Here, I saw my teammate Sam West and Druid Hills High School golfer, Aiko Benford, warming up before the opportunity of a lifetime. I also got to talk about the incredible impact the TOUR has on the community of East Lake, specifically my school. After, we walked to the media tent, where we got to see reporters preparing for the day ahead.

As I walked to the first tee box, I got to wish Sam and Aiko luck for the big moment. They seemed both excited and a little nervous, but I knew that they would crush it. There was an incredible amount of support, including the Drew Golf Team, the East Lake Foundation, faculty from Drew, and friends and family. Justin and I took our spots at the front, and the ceremony started. As Aiko made her way to the tee, she was calm and collected. She swings back and crushes her drive. Next, Sam takes his place at the tee box and shows support to those who showed up for him. I was extremely excited for him because I have been with Sam, as he allowed the game of golf to shape him as a person. After Sam hits his shot, I see a wave of relief wash over him.

After, Sam and Aiko were presented with a $10,000 scholarship to support them on their academic journeys. We met up with Sam and Aiko, where we conducted interviews with 11Alive, with the support of Reggie Chatman. Sam and Aiko seemed extremely relieved to be done with the process of countless practices and interviews. I was able to go “inside the ropes” and create even more content. Lastly, I was able to go to the YouTube tent, where I got to test out a swing simulator, without even using a ball or a real golf club! The technology used in the club tracked the speed of my swing to predict how far I would hit the hypothetical ball.

My second experience as a media correspondent was amazing. East Lake Golf Club is a truly special place, and I enjoyed watching two very talented golfers inspire the next generation of junior golfers.

By Taylor Harper, Drew Charter School Senior and Varsity Golfer