Golfer fares well

Royal High School may have next Tiger in the halls

ROYAL CITY — Joseph Perkins has just returned from two whirlwind trips that are a dream to high school golfers.

Perkins has just returned from the Junior America's Cup golf tournament in Ogden, Utah where he competed against a field that included golfers from all over the western United States.

"When I was 11, I think, my first tournament was in Othello," Perkins said. "I didn't do very good."

Perkins is quiet when he talks about golf, a game he chose over baseball in middle school; a game his father and older brother have played for as long as Perkins can remember.

"I would go to the golf course with my dad and look in the weeds for balls and stuff, learn to swing," said Perkins.

Perkins admits his dad never expected a second golfer from his second son but rather foresaw a future in baseball or something else. But one conversation about golf with Perkins and it is easy to see his blood runs green.

"After I decided to play golf, I just kept working harder and got more serious about it," Perkins said. "I like the challenge of it … and I wanted to beat my brother."

Now after two tournaments that turn the heads of avid golf fans from around the country, Perkins is beginning to look to the next step. In such a competitive arena as golf, Perkins is seeking to improve his skills on the collegiate level or, at very least, remain involved in golf as much as possible.

"I'd like to get a scholarship," said Perkins. "I talked to the coach at Gonzaga and if that doesn't work out I'll probably go to the University of Idaho. They have a golf course management program."

Despite the practicality of golf in college or managing a golf course, Perkins gets a far away look in his eye when asked about the course he would most like to play.

"I think I'd want to play at Augusta National," Perkins said. "Just because the pros play it every year and so I watch it every year and it looks like it'd be the funnest course to play on."

Presently, Perkins plays on Royal City's golf course and praises its availability, saying he could not thank enough Bill Vowells, David James, Jack Thomas and all the members at the golf club for allowing him the opportunity to practice whenever he needs to.

"It's not a very tough course but I realized that in competition its not about how tough your home course is, it's about how hard you've practiced," said Perkins.

Perkins said he would be most interested in meeting Freddy Couples, a fellow Washingtonian, to ask him about his experiences in the same tournaments Perkins now finds himself competing in. He also cites Tiger Woods as a source of inspiration.

"He (Woods) just grinds so hard. His work ethic is ridiculous," Perkins said. "And he had some hardships in his life and now he's the best golfer in the world."

While Perkins has just returned home, he is already thinking into the next golf season.

"The two tournaments I played in this year were a goal but I won't be a junior next year," said Perkins. "I want to play and do well in the Washington State Amateur next year. I didn't do very good in it last time."