Basketball Star Makes Northwestern Golf Debut

Simone Sampson, a 16-year-old forward on the girls basketball team at Northwestern High School, is accustomed to sidestepping defenders to get to the hoop. Now it's locating the golf course's narrow fairway that Sampson finds challenging.

During a scrimmage on Monday at the Paint Branch Golf Complex in College Park, Sampson made her official golf debut. Students from Bowie, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Charles H. Flowers High School participated in the nine-hole competition.

After playing golf for two years recreationally, Sampson decided to join Northwestern's fledgling golf team. She is now diligently focused on being a two-sport athlete. 

"I've been playing golf since I was 14, but I never played on an actual team," Sampson said at the scrimmage. "This is kind of new to me. We started practicing Monday of last week. I already had a gist of how to swing, but I'm still working on my aim."

On the first drive of hole number one, Sampson sent the ball flying into the water hazard.

"She got off to a poor start on the first hole putting two attempts into the lake," said Northwestern coach Jesse Jenkins. "But this was her first competitive golf match and a parent, the coach, the athletic director and the press were all watching."

The golf course consisted of five par-threes and four par-fours. Sampson's final score was 52, the lowest of all the girls present.

"The first hole I was really nervous," said Sampson. "The next hole, I felt a little better and the next hole even better."

Sampson was the only player representing Northwestern's team. The team's sole other member was unavailable. Terri Dendy, Northwestern's athletic director, is working to recruit more students along with Jenkins.

"With golf being relatively knew to African American and Hispanic kids, they don't know that there are golf scholarships," said Dendy.  "Oftentimes, students get involved but because of the time constraints, they give up. If you can keep them there and keep them motivated they'll get better opportunities."

Another coach from the competition noticed Sampson's potential.

"She's the perfect size for golf," said Troy Bradbury, head coach for Eleanor Roosevelt. "I've been playing golf since I was 12. I know when someone has real potential."

Sampson is  a skilled athlete but she is also an excellent student, said her mother, Antoinette Sampson.

"Simone is very focused. When she makes up her mind that she's going to do something, she does it and she does it well as evidenced by her grades in school. She's a 3.8 GPA student," she said.

To keep up with local sports, visit www.twitter.com/patchsportsmd.