WHS golfer heads

to Australia,

then Newberry
By Tiffany Allison
Special to the Democrat

What started out as just a hobby for Watauga High School senior Krista Handy has evolved into a career.

With her recent induction into the 2009 Down Under Sports Tournament as a golf-representative from North Carolina, Handy is ready to show Australia why golf is one of America’s favorite sports.

Handy first discovered her love for golf when her stepfather walked her through her first green during her eight-grade year.

“He took me out to Willow Valley and we played nine holes,” she said. “At first I was OK, but I like it. It’s a very calm sport.”

Golf became a comfort sport for Handy as she began to mature as a player. Through two years of professional training from PGA pro Joe Gagliano and her stint with Watauga High School’s golf team, Handy has practiced her way into a scholarship at Newberry College, a Division II school located in South Carolina.

“He (Gagliano) was very patient with me,” she said. “It was an awesome feeling that someone takes the time and doesn’t stress you out. It’s a mental game and you have to do a lot of thinking.”

And Handy will be concentrating for the next few months while Gagliano prepares her for the international tournament in Australia this summer.

“I’m so excited that I was chosen for this opportunity,” she said. “I couldn’t concentrate all day when I found out. “

Competing with golfers from all 50 states and Australia, Handy is ready to compete in her first tournament. However, she is still taking the time to enjoy herself before the journey to Australia.

“I like to have fun with it. I’ll go out and play with my grandma or go out by myself and have fun,” she said. “It’s something that I am good at that I never really knew that I had.”

If she is not on the green practicing her putts, Handy is singing in Watauga High School’s chorus, designing sets for the drama department or going on mission’s trips with Grace Lutheran Church.

Handy has accompanied the Grace Lutheran Church to mission trips to San Antonio, Texas, New Orleans, and St. Croix, Virgin Islands, volunteering at soup kitchens, orphanages and nursing homes.

But Handy always finds her way back to the course no matter how packed her schedule becomes. Practicing at Grandfather Golf and Country Club during the offseason, golf has become part of her everyday life.
“It’s a stress reliever for me,” she said. “If I have a bad day, I can hit my problems away on the course.”

Between 2,000-3,000 athletes compete annually in the Down Under International Games. This opportunity is offered to high school students who are nominated by their high school coach or an International Sports Specialists Inc. state coach. ISSI founded the Down Under Games to give athletes an opportunity to travel internationally and experience other cultures.

Handy has begun fundraising for her tournament. For every $2 earned by her family the ISSI will match. For more information about supporting this local athlete, please contact Connie Cook at (828) 963-1633 or e-mail her at ccook_ggcc@yahoo.com.