TJG: Hi Owen. Congratulations on your junior golf career so far and your recent decision to attend Texas A&M on a golf scholarship for the 2026-27 season. That’s awesome! I’m sure our readers would love to know more about your journey. When did Texas A&M start following you?
Owen: Thank you! I’d say Texas A&M has been following me for a long time. I’ve
seen them at tournaments ever since I moved to Arizona five years ago. But as
time goes on, you start to notice that coaches are at a lot of tournaments, not
just the big ones. All the coaches wear their school’s golf gear, so you start
to recognize who’s who. At the same time, as a player, you try not to focus too
much on the coaches following you. It takes some getting used to, and it can be
nerve-wracking, but they’re watching how you handle yourself—not just how you
play. That’s important to realize.
TJG: What was the big draw to Texas A&M?
Owen: What I like most about Texas A&M are the coaches. Coach Kortan
has a reputation for being not just a great coach, but a great golfer. Having a
coach who has played at an elite level is important to me. Coach Matt Fast is
super knowledgeable about so many aspects of the game. I know both of them will
push me, and I know they want the best for their players.
TJG: Tell us more about your visit to Texas A&M.
Owen: My visit was amazing. The practice facility and home course
(Traditions) at A&M is one of the best. I know I’ll get better there. I
wanted to get out of Arizona and play in the wind and different weather (but
still be able to play year-round). The campus is beautiful and big, but I could
walk to the practice facility and course from my dorm—that was important to me.
I didn’t want to waste time driving. The athletes' dining hall felt like an
all-inclusive vacation. The dorms for student-athletes at Texas A&M are
really nice. We get our own room, and have a washer and dryer and a full
kitchen. The culture at A&M is really unique and cool. It’s a small college
town, and everyone is so involved—they’re die-hard fans. You really start to
buy into being an Aggie as soon as you step on campus.
TJG: Did you meet any current team members on your visit?
Owen: I got to play with some of the guys on the team when I visited. I
have a lot of respect for Wheaton Ennis (2024 HS graduate from Arizona). I’ve
always looked up to him, so it was awesome to be given the opportunity to
become his teammate.
TJG: Overall, how was the recruiting process?
Owen: It was great. I had built strong relationships with many other
college coaches who recruited me, so it was incredibly difficult to make those
calls and let them know I had decided to go elsewhere.
TJG: What do you plan on studying at Texas A&M?
Owen: I plan to major in marketing or business.
TJG: OK, let's switch gears. What grade are you in, and what school do you attend?
Owen: I’m a junior in high school. I attend ASU Prep Digital, an online school.
TJG: When did you start playing golf, and how did you get into the sport?
Owen: I started playing when I was very young. My first tournament was right before I turned four. My grandpa ran a junior tournament in my hometown in Illinois called The Youth Classic, and he let me play in the youngest division. He introduced me to golf—he was an avid golfer himself. We used to have chipping and putting contests for candy bars. That’s the way to a four-year-old’s heart! Then my dad started working with me and studying the game to help me improve.
TJG: What’s your home course?
Owen: Whirlwind Golf Club.
TJG: What does it take physically and mentally to compete at a high level?
Owen: I’m constantly working on my mental game. I’ve read every book I can find on the mental aspect of golf. Right now, I’m reading Inner Excellence, which isn’t directly about golf but focuses on how to think properly—on and off the course. That has really helped my overall mindset.
Physically, golf takes a toll on the body. The repetitive movements use the same muscles over and over, so I work out four times a week. My training includes resistance exercises, plyometrics, and recently, more weightlifting to build out my frame and protect my body. I also stretch daily, see a chiropractor regularly, and track my nutrition carefully. I wear a WHOOP to monitor my stress levels and sleep. Recovery is extremely important to me—cold exposure is one of my favorite methods. I also maintain a strict sleep schedule to ensure I get the proper rest.
TJG: How much do you practice? Do you work with a mental coach? How important has family support been in your journey?
Owen: I practice daily from about noon until dark—sometimes more, sometimes less. Being in online school gives me flexibility. I do have a mental coach because, for me, the mental aspect of the game is the most important. It’s something I’m heavily investing in. My family has been amazing. They sacrifice so much so I can play competitive golf. They always believe in me, even during tough times. They’re my biggest supporters, and I know they always will be.
TJG: Do you have a golf sponsorships?
Owen: Yes, Titleist. They support me with clubs, balls, hats, gloves, etc. They’ve been great to me! I play a full bag of Titleist equipment.
TJG: What are some of your biggest junior golf wins or tournament highlights?
Owen: Winning the 2023 JGAA Boys Championship Player of the Year was a huge accomplishment for me. That year, I won six tournaments, which was awesome. More recently, I won the 2024 Desert Amateur—my first amateur event victory.
TJG: What’s your lowest score in a competitive round?
Owen: 64 (-8).
TJG: What’s your favorite golf memory so far?
Owen: Two summers ago, I qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur and the Junior PGA Championship. My mom and I decided to make a road trip out of the summer. We started in South Carolina for the U.S. Junior Am, then spent four weeks driving across the country.
I played in three AJGA events and the Junior PGA Championship, stopping along the way to play different courses just for the experience.
Our final stop was in New Jersey for my last AJGA event of the summer, where I became fully exempt for the first time. It was an incredible journey—we spent countless hours in the car, stayed in hotels, learned how to do laundry in laundromats, and figured out how to eat somewhat healthy on the road. It was exhausting but unforgettable. We had both great and tough moments, and we worked through them together. That trip is something I’ll always remember.
TJG: Do you play any other organized sports?
Owen: No, but I did take piano lessons up until two years ago. I still enjoy writing music as an outlet for golf.
TJG: What’s your ultimate goal in golf?
Owen: My ultimate goal is to see how good I can get. Of course, I dream of winning majors, but no matter what happens, I want to look back and know that I gave it my all.
TJG: Anything else you’d like to share?
Owen: Play golf out of state and outside your comfort zone—even if you struggle. My parents and I have prioritized playing a schedule that challenges me rather than just picking tournaments where I know I’ll play well. I’ve competed all over the country, and sometimes my scores haven’t been great. But each time, I gain more confidence—whether it’s dealing with 5-inch rough, greens running at a 13 on the stimpmeter, or narrow fairways that demand precision. Arizona is an amazing place to play golf, but it can be a bubble. I’m so thankful we moved from Illinois to Arizona so I could play year-round. But I also know that to truly test my game, I need to compete against top players from across the country.
TJG: Where can we find you on social media?
Owen: Instagram
