Future NMSU golfer sees stars on Steph Curry summer golf tour and in college
An incoming freshman to the New Mexico State University women’s golf team is reaching for the stars when it comes to career choices despite playing on a golf tour founded by a well-known professional athlete.
“My goal is to be an aerospace engineer when I graduate from college,” said Jolei Adkins.
She graduated from Clovis High School this past May after spending five years on the Lady Wildcat golf team qualifying for district and state tournaments.
After graduation, Adkins competed on the UNDERRATED Golf Tour this summer founded by NBA Champion and All-Star Steph Curry.
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This is the second year for the UNDERRATED Golf Tour, which consisted of four regional tournaments, according to a press release from the golfing organization. Ninety-six athletes participated in tournament-style events and team-building activities while networking with college golf coaches and golf executives.
Twenty-four athletes will compete for the Curry Cup at the UNDERRATED Tour Championship from Aug. 20 through Aug. 23 in San Francisco.
In the press release, Curry said UNDERRATED Golf was committed to ushering in a new season of opportunities for student-athletes to showcase their golf talents.
“This upcoming tournament furthers our work to be a gateway for young, underrepresented golfers to unveil their extraordinary abilities and compete on renowned golf courses across the country," he said. "This year, we will continue to engrain the UNDERRATED mindset with these young golfers, and I am excited to see how they transform the game.”
Adkins competed for a Lady Cat squad that was foes of the Carlsbad Cavegirls in District 5-4A.
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She said playing on courses in Clovis, Carlsbad and other parts of southeast New Mexico and the State of New Mexico prepared her for the UNDERRATED Tour.
“When I was playing in (the) UNDERRATED (Tour) a course in (Las) Vegas was the spitting image of Twin Warriors in Albuquerque and kind of like Spring River (in Roswell). These courses in New Mexico are different,” she said.
Adkins competed at a tournament in West Palm Beach, Florida in June and a tournament in Las Vegas the following month.
She credited UNDERRATED Tour for opening her eyes to competition against a greater number of players.
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While in high school, Adkins said she would compete against three or four people. The small group competitions produced some lasting bonds while in high school.
Adkins said some of the young people competing on the UNDERRATED Tour could turn professional.
“These kids can really play. It’s a big competition,” she said.
Turning into a professional golfer is an option for Adkins; however, she is placing her education first with aspirations of developing aircraft, spacecraft, satellites and missiles.
She is majoring in mechanical and aerospace engineering at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces and would like to attain a higher degree once she graduates.
“After that, I want to see if I have a future in golf. I just didn’t want my future riding on golf,” she said.
Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at MSmith@currentargus.com or @ArgusMichae on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Clovis High graduate competes on Steph Curry golf tour
