Local golfer on par for PGA

PROGRESO — An ant is a six legged creature that follows a strand of others to and from the pile. But one Red Ant golfer at Progreso High School has stepped forward to lead the line.

High school junior Freddie Ramirez is busy tightening his golf game on the way to realizing his goal of playing professionally.
The 16-year-old said his game is better than ever and still improving. 

 
"I've raised my average to 77," he said. "I've been working with my game. Hopefully I can be shooting in the 60s in the future. I'd like to gain a little more distance and a little more accuracy and consistency. I want to do the best I can every time."

Ramirez was recently granted membership in the Southern Texas PGA Junior Tour.   

 
"I was ranked top five in the Valley which was pretty good considering it was my first year there," Ramirez said. "To make it to Houston (with PGA) was a great accomplishment." 

 
The young golfer's goals for the school year include advancing to the top levels of University Interscholastic League competition.

"I just hope I can place in a lot of tournaments and go to regionals and state," he said. "I placed in six or seven tournaments here and tied for first at the district tournament (last year.)" 

 
In golf, professional players shot for scores in the 60s. Ramirez took a step toward the pros two weeks ago when he broke 70. He shot a 68, he said.

"It feels really good," said Ramirez. "People have told me that I'm doing very well for the time that I've been playing. My friends don't really like golf as much as I do but my family supports me all the way." 

Ramirez' father Mario Ramirez, a certified golf instructor, said his son had natural talent from his beginnings in the game at 14.

"He wanted to learn so I started teaching him," he said "He had a good swing. We would get together every couple of weeks and go play; he got better and better."

Ramirez said golf became a big part of his son's life, one that he would choose to pursue long-term.