Fossil Ridge High School freshman Judd Nikkel may be one of the youngest players on the team, but he is turning heads on the course.

“For a younger player, one of the hardest things to do is to understand when to be aggressive and when not to be. So, my first impression was that his golf game was mature for his age,” Fossil Ridge Varsity Golf coach Jamie Menefee said.

When Nikkel was three, he started playing golf with a bag full of plastic clubs and never stopped. His love of the game grew when he started to put in the work and grind with his dad. This led to the start of tournament play in middle school.

“My dad helped a lot,” Nikkel said about his formative years with the game. “I mean, he also played with me a lot, and just kept practicing with them, doing fun games, and just, I really enjoyed the sport.”

Menefee has seen Nikkel’s game improve this year as well. 

“I go back to kind of what I said earlier about his ability to just manage his game. He knows the best way to score on a hole,” Menefee said. 

Nikkel believes he has improved on many things as well.

“Definitely my ball striking. I was hitting it not that great at the start of the season, but now it has started to really come around recently, which has led to me shooting better scores,” Nikkel said.

He has also developed techniques on the mental side of his game.

“Breathing techniques, breathing just like, helps me stay focused on the course,” he said.

Not only is Nikkel playing well, he has goals to do well in the state tournament on Oct. 6-7.

“Definitely place high in state and just in overall rankings in the state,” Nikkel said.

Menefee has high hopes for Nikkel in his future in the sport.

“I see no reason why he won’t be another one of a long line of Fossil golfers that has a chance to compete for an individual and possibly team state championship before he’s done here,” Menefee said. “And I think if he continues to progress like he is, he’ll likely be yet another Division I golfer coming from Fossil Ridge.”