Growth spurt leads to big things for FPD golfer Wesley Hanson

It has been 36 years since the FPD Vikings have won a state golf championship, and with the team playing in the difficult GHSA Class A private school competition, it was going to be tough for them to make a serious run at the title this spring.

But the Vikings, led by junior Wesley Hanson, ended up with a second-place finish in the state tournament, 10 shots behind state champion Brookstone. Hanson, who had 12 top-five finishes this spring, shot a 75 to match Chris Adams for the Vikings’ low round at the state tournament.

Wilson Andress and Charles Stroud both shot 76, while Jay Spivey had a 77. Alex Odom rounded out the Vikings’ scoring with a 78.

Hanson, who has battled through some ups and downs on the course the past few years, has gone from a 4-foot-11 eighth-grader to a 6-foot junior, causing him to make changes to his swing.

“I had a pretty good swing but I was so small, and it seemed like I was never going to grow,” said Hanson, who had an 18-hole stroke average of 74 this year and is The Telegraph’s All-Middle Georgia Boys Golfer of the Year. “But when I started to grow, it was like it all came at the same time, and that really threw my stroke off. I couldn’t find a consistent swing because I was growing every day. It was very frustrating for me, and I guess I had days where I really didn’t want to play.

“But I just kept working with my coach, Bobby Hix, and things continued to get better. Now I feel like I am at the point where I can pretty much repeat the same swing.”

FPD head coach Charley Chase was quick to give Hanson credit for the successful season.

“Wesley was the heart of FPD’s great season, and he led us all year with his commitment to excellence, competitiveness, love and respect for the game and desire to honor the Lord on and off the course,” Chase said. “He has just been a joy to coach.”

Hanson believes if he wants to take his game to the next level, he has to have a productive summer.

“I am going to take it very serious this summer and see if I can improve my game,” said Hanson, whose goal includes playing in college. “I have already played one tournament this summer and plan to play three or four more, and I need to be on the course almost every day. I know to get better I have to get out on the range and hit ball after ball. I feel like putting and putting the ball in the fairway is my strength, but I have to really work on my ball striking and hitting greens in regulation.

“My goal this summer is to improve my weaknesses.”

Hanson said that while golf is an individual sport, he loved the team aspect that FPD golf brought him.

“It was a lot of fun playing on a team and hanging out with all the guys and working towards a team goal,” Hanson said. “Hopefully next year will be even better.”

This story was originally published June 9, 2016 at 9:00 PM with the headline "Growth spurt leads to big things for FPD golfer Wesley Hanson."