A popular adage is that it takes at least 10,000 hours of practice to master a particular skill.
Erie senior Logan Hale seems to disagree.
In 2018, at the age of 11, Hale began competing in the sport of golf, a sport known for its perfection and tradition.It can take years to become even halfway decent, but in just five years. He later started competing by the end of 2023. – She owns several course records, an individual state championship, two team state championships, qualified for the U.S. Women’s Junior Championship, and competed in the Colorado Women’s Open, an event where juniors and amateurs can compete against adults. Did. She is a professional golfer.
Hale still isn't entirely sure how she developed this amazing talent so quickly, but she believes it's probably due to the natural athleticism she and her family developed from an early age. .
“I think I just grew up playing multiple sports,” Hale explained. “When I was a kid, my parents let me play all kinds of sports. Additionally, my mom played competitive soccer when she was younger and her dad played a lot of sports as well.
“The thing about ski racing is that it's been my childhood for a really long time. I've been on skis ever since I can remember, basically since I could take a step. I think that having been skiing for so long and that multi-sport background has really helped me with golf, in addition to all my other sports. Are you playing?” he asks. And I think the basic athletic skills from all other sports were very helpful for golf. ”
“I think she's a really talented athlete and a very motivated player,” Erie High School golf head coach Brandon Byrd said. “If you can bring both of those things out on the golf course, I think it's a magic recipe. We saw it play out last year in the state tournament and in the qualifying rounds for the U.S. Girls' Junior Championship.” Thinking about it, athlete If you play golf, she's probably one of the top athletes who has ever taken golf seriously. ”
In addition to athleticism and competitiveness, Hale believes comfort in high-stress, adrenaline-fueled moments is another aspect of cross-training that he learned from ski racing that is especially valuable.
“Golf is more of an interim sport, very different from the positive mindset I got from ski racing,” Hale said. “I was taking risks and hitting aggressive shots, but some of the girls I was playing with were hitting simple shot after simple shot, trying to get into the easy spots. I was definitely a little too aggressive when I was younger, so I've had to work on that, but I still think what a lot of people say when they watch my games is that it's aggressive.”
At last year's 4A state championship, Hale's “magical” golf prowess and steady pulse under bright lights helped him beat the next best player by eight strokes and the best non-player score in the state. I was able to finish with a 15 stroke lead. The championship is already under their belt.
Hale's accomplishments are made even more impressive by some of the mental hurdles she has had to face, especially considering the focus and concentration required by the game of golf.
Chief among those obstacles may be the fact that Hale's biggest rival and fiercest competitor is also her strongest teammate and longtime close friend, Hadley Ashton. do not have.
In 2022, Ashton, now a junior at Erie, won individual state honors by hitting 147 shots, ahead of Hale's 156, and, along with Hale, led the Erie women's golf team to the first-ever championship in 2022. He helped win the state championship.
The tables were reversed the following season, with Hale outscoring Hadley 137-145, and the Tigers won their second straight women's golf title.
This kind of rivalry can easily cause enough tension to damage team chemistry or damage the friendship between two people, but surprisingly, it doesn't seem to be that big of an issue. .
“They can handle it as well as you would expect any teenager to be able to handle it,” Byrd said. “There are definitely ups and downs. I saw the pain in Logan's eyes two years ago when she didn't win state and Hadley won. Still, she was proud of her friend and teammate. And the same thing happened last year. Hadley was hoping to win state again, but saw his teammate Logan do it.
“At the end of the day, this is still an individual sport, so it's about how you deal with personal disappointment in the team's success. I think it was difficult for them, but they were very You did a great job.”
Hale agrees with that opinion.
Regarding her relationship with Ashton, Hale responded, “It's a rare challenge and it can be difficult at times, but we've been best friends for a while.” “She's someone I always looked up to when I was younger, and she was the first person I started choosing. [golf] Up. She was a force to be reckoned with, and she was always very impressive. It's really great to know her over the years and then rise to her level and now be on the same team.we were able to break up [the rivalry] Pretty well. Sometimes I forget we are even playing golf together, because she is one of my closest friends. ”
Their friendly competition put pressure on both golfers to be the best versions of themselves and helped them both develop at an amazing pace.
Many top athletes don't have high school teammates with whom they can talk seriously on a regular basis. That unique bond appears to have been a key factor in Hale's rapid progression in the sport.
As the 2024 state championship approaches, Hale has her sights set on Erie's third straight title and another big clash with her best friend.
