"IF YOU LIKE GOLF"
weekly online golf column
by
Stan Crawley

June 22, 2004

Thanks to sessions with sports psychologist Charles Plott, 17-year-old sensation Adam Mitchell has widened his golfing goals.

"He has helped me by at least three or four shots per round,'' Mitchell said. "I used to shoot a 69, then a 77. Now, I'm a lot more consistent, and I haven't been over 75 in a long time.''

Mitchell recently shot a 60 the final day in winning the Bubba Conlee National Junior Golf Tournament in Memphis at the Cherokee Valley Golf Club. He had rounds of 66, 71 and 60 in winning by nine strokes.

Mitchell also recently finished second in the highly regarded Southern Junior at the Sea Island Golf Club at St. Simons Island, Ga.

2004 Bubba Conlee Champion
Adam Mitchell

And last weekend in the Red Bud Invitational, Mitchell was tied for the lead with two holes left before finishing runner-up to his former McCallie teammate, Bryce Ledford.

Since first meeting with Plott, Mitchell has improved dramatically.

"He has really helped me a lot,'' Mitchell said. "I have a few bad tendencies, some things I would let slide. He has helped my focus with the little stuff. He helps me with things I have to think about, like fundamentals and my stance.

"My pre-shot route is a lot better. I'm just getting things in line better. And all that little stuff gets you closer to perfection.''

Mitchell wants to use his new consistency for a successful senior season at McCallie. He will play in several prestigious tournaments this summer, including the Rolex Tournament of Champions in Oregon in August.

"I'm looking for a big year at McCallie,'' he said. "We'll be a lot improved this year, but there's always Baylor. King (Oehmig) does a good job over there with them.

"My goals are pretty high right now. I want to see how good I can be, and I know that will take a lot of hard work.''

After returning home from his last golf trip, Mitchell said it took him two hours to sort through and return e-mails from colleges wanting to sign him to a scholarship.

"I want to make it all the way to the PGA Tour,'' Mitchell said. "But I know that I have to get better in college, and then take it from there. Going somewhere where I know I'll get better will be the biggest factor in my decision on college.''

Mitchell's swing coach is Oswald Drawdy, a professional in Atlanta.

"He says I'm swinging better than any of the juniors out there,'' Mitchell said. "Still, I don't think I'm there yet. But it's close.''

The key to all the success, however, has been Plott.

"Before him, I didn't know how good I was, or how good I could be,'' Mitchell said. "It's all about confidence.''

(E-mail Stan Crawley at wscrawley@earthlink.net)

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