Swinging for the stars

Legacy.

That’s what sophomore Stalee Fields’ family has in golf. Her dad and current girls golf coach started playing at the age of 10, and her two older sisters currently compete in college, so it wasn’t any surprise when she picked up the sport as well.

From a young age, Stalee followed in her dad and sisters’ footsteps; she would go with them out onto the golf course when she was still a toddler. Now, as the co-captain of the girls golf team, she’s playing with the best players her age in the world. On Sept. 11, she won the individual title at the Heart of Texas Tournament.

“Golf was always [the] tying bind in our family,” girls golf coach and Fields’ father Jeffery Fields said. “That’s what’s connected us and that’s what’s always brought us together.”

Around the age of 3, Stalee was first introduced to golf by her dad, who she says has been a huge inspiration.

“[My dad] is very strict [and] very demanding, but in a good way,” Stalee said. “He pushes me to be the best. He’s held that standard for me ever since I was little: if we’re going to do something, we’re going to do it the absolute best that we can. I feel like him always pushing me has made me better.”

Stalee started winning tournaments at about the age of 6, and won the Texas State Championship for her age group at the age of 8. Since then, she’s won tournament after tournament, winning about 30 in Texas Junior Golf Tour and North Texas Professional Golfers Association tournaments. 

“I think she’s probably one of the most valuable players on the team,” co-captain Grace Simonsen said. “Her scoring averages are so low. The juniors on the golf team [looked] up to her even when she was younger. It’s been super fun leading with [Stalee] because she’s very driven and she loves golf. I think she makes the golf team feel so welcome.”

Stalee will be competing in the Swing for a Cure tournament on Oct. 28. She now also plays in the American Junior Golf Association, competing with the best in the world in her age group.

“[I love] competing [because] you spend five hours of your day with people you don’t know, and then five hours later you’re best friends,” Stalee said. “It’s a really tight community, which is super fun to be part of.”