Duke's Junior Golfer Scholorship

Not surprisingly, most of the nominations we receive for the Duke’s Seafood Junior Golfer Scholarship come from parents and grandparents (though a few aunts have been quick to promote their niece or nephew, too). We can’t get enough of their stories saying how their kids and grandkids are being introduced to, and developing within, the game. Reading about how much those families enjoy playing golf together is pretty cool.

Every so often though, a nomination comes in from a teacher or coach and, somehow, it hits differently. We know it comes from a different place — metaphorically speaking — professional recognition rather than unconditional love.

This month’s nomination arrived from a First Tee coach who has been working with — or rather mentoring – the student she recommends for the award since 2019. Which is remarkable when you consider the student in question, Esli Choi of Maple Valley, is just 12 years-old and a 6th-grader at Summit Trail Middle School in Ravensdale.

John Moscrip of Duke’s Seafood who helps select each winner, has awarded the scholarship to only one person younger than Esli – Nixon Dremousis in August 2020. So, this award is indeed special.

It was Leslie Guzman, the Program Manager at the First Tee of Greater Seattle based at Jefferson Park, that nominated Esli, the oldest of four siblings, noting that she is fully invested in the game and seems to have the maturity and tenacity of someone twice her age. “She has so many great qualities,” adds Guzman. “She is one of the hardest-working and most motivated participants here. She encourages others and can be very empathetic. She has set big golf goals for herself, plays US Kids Golf, and has entered into the WJGA circuit.”

Esli hit her first shot when she was seven and now loves to play golf with her cousins and dad at Maple Valley and Bellevue Municipal, but mostly on the simulator at home. And she really loves the First Tee. “What I like about it is that you get to make new friends and the coaches teach you really well,” she says. “I’ve learned a lot there and am getting so much better.”

Moscrip is delighted Esli is embarking on a life in golf and says it “was a joy to select her” as the next worthy winner. “With maturity beyond her years,” he adds “this impressive young golfer epitomizes our vision for the award with her dedication, vision and hard work.”

Esli’s favorite players are Lydia Ko, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy all of whom she is determined to meet one day. Until that happens, she will continue working on her game and plans to use the scholarship money to buy a video card for the at-home simulator that will enable her to play St. Andrews, Pebble Beach and Augusta National (good choices, Esli!) where, who knows, we might see her at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur one day.

Leslie Guzman, for one, wouldn’t be surprised if that ever happened. “Esli will be a great junior golfer with time,” she says. “More importantly, perhaps, she is becoming a really outstanding individual. We are very lucky to have her in our program.”

The Duke’s Junior Golfer Scholarship is a $500 scholarship awarded three times this year in Cascade Golfer to a deserving young player from the Puget Sound region. If you know of an area youth that loves golf and has a desire to take their career to the next level, submit your letter of inquiry for scholarship consideration to both tonydear71@comcast.net and stephens@varsitycommunications.com — subject “Duke’s Scholar.”