Columbus North’s Willy Davis is The Republic Boys Golfer of the Year. He is pictured in the studio at The Republic in Columbus, Ind., Tuesday, June 20, 2023.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Willy Davis made the most of his senior season with Columbus North this year.
Davis made a return to the Boys Golf State Finals playing alongside his team this year after making it as an individual last year. Even though it wasn’t the result he or the team wanted this year at state, he was glad to have one last opportunity to play there.
“It was a unique experience to be able to experience both ends of going as an individual and on a team,” said Davis, who is The Republic Boys Golfer of the Year. “Going as a team is so much better because you are playing for more than just yourself. Going to state as a team is a whole different experience. It was so much fun. We all wanted to play better than what we did, but we all had a blast no matter what we shot.”
As great as Davis’ golf game was, he strived to become a better golfer this year. He worked on both the physical and mental aspects of the game.
Mentally, Davis focused on not letting his emotions get the best of him if he was having an off day. Physically, he worked on trying to have more of a consistent swing, while also improving his chipping and putting.
With Davis being one of four seniors in the lineup for most of the season, the group helped motivate each other and push other to become better golfers.
“We were a lot closer to each other this year than in years’ past. We all really tried to get each other better,” Davis said. “At the end of the day, we all wanted to beat each other, but we also wanted to make sure everyone was playing well because we knew that for us to make a run at state, we needed four good scores.”
That proved to be true at the regional round. While most will remember the long eagle putt that Davis made on No. 18 at Champions Pointe, it was the fourth golfer score that gave the team the one shot advantage to secure the third-and-final qualifying spot for the state finals.
For the season, Davis averaged 37.6 overall per nine holes played, including 76.9 in 18-hole matches.
“He was an important leader for us. Not because of how the regional worked out, but he was a leader when we were playing bad, too, or we weren’t playing to our capabilities. He helped us,” North coach Doug Bieker said. “He was a good mentor for (sophomore) Brady (Schneider) and helping him mature a little. Being a leader is not an easy thing … He led by example. It’s a pretty terrific quality to have if you can manage it.”
Davis began playing golf at 8 years old, but he also played another sport — football. He started football at age 5 and was a three-year starter on the offensive line for the Bull Dogs.
Davis comes from a football family, with his father and brother being football players themselves. As much as Willy liked playing football, golf slowly became his top sport.
“I found myself enjoying golf more at the end of the day. Also, making it to state last year as an individual and seeing how successful I could be at golf, it felt really good,” he said. “It’s more peaceful for me, and I find myself spending more time there out on the golf course.”
Davis has plenty of golf to play in the next seven days. He will play in a U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier today, and he’ll play in the AJGA Circle K Junior Championship at Otter Creek beginning on Tuesday after receiving an exemption.
While his time with the Bull Dogs is finished, another door opens for Davis in his golfing career. He recently committed to play golf for DePauw next year.
“I’m super excited,” Davis said. “Two to three years ago, I was thinking about playing college golf, and I thought of it as a possibility. It’s good to live out a childhood dream of mine of being able to play college golf. I really think going to DePauw can really help my game get to the next level.”
