East County Athlete of the Week: Emily Storm

Emily Storm checked off some of her goals in golf over the past few months.

The Lakewood Ranch senior won an American Junior Golf Association event in April, added on two more top-15 finishes this summer and committed to play golf for Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee in late July. 

Beginning Aug. 11, Storm will begin her senior season with the Mustangs — and one more run at competing in the Florida High School Athletic Association state championships.

When and why did you start playing golf?

I started playing golf when I was around 3 years old. I started playing because my dad got me into it. I played six or seven other sports, and I loved playing those, but golf stuck with me. I made a hole-in-one when I was 10 and I found out I might be good at it. So I wanted to stick with it and see where it went from there. The dream was to play college golf and hopefully go pro one day.

What was the most memorable part of this summer?

I verbally committed to Austin Peay in Tennessee and that was very memorable. I enjoyed that. Being able to play D-I golf was always the dream. Once I went to visit the school, I really liked the school and the coach was great. That was really cool to have that pressure off my shoulders.

What is your favorite all-time golf memory?

I would say getting an albatross. It was in a high school golf match. I was on the sixth hole and it was a par 5 (at Lakewood Ranch Country Club - Royal Lakes). I hit a great drive and I had 195 (yards) in. I hit a five wood and it was going straight at the pin. I couldn’t see it, but it was going right at it. My golf coach (Mick Koczersut) went up to the hole and looked at it and he was like, ‘No, there’s no ball in there.’ And my dad (Gene Storm) was tricking me saying, ‘It’s over in the rough.’ My golf coach said, ‘Go look in the hole,’ and the ball was in the cup. Getting an albatross was so great. I was so happy and I ended up shooting a 30 that day. 

What makes you confident in this year’s Lakewood Ranch girls golf team?

Our top players are confident in our game and we’re competitive people. We have a good atmosphere on the team, too, so I think that’s going to help us win a lot of matches this year. We’re losing a couple of good players, but I think we are adding a couple of good players. We’ll see how tryouts go. If we don’t make it to regionals or states as a team, I think a couple of us will go as individuals. 

What has gone right for you with your golf game lately?

My driver has been consistently a great part of my game. It never really lets me down. I’m able to be comfortable over the shot when I’m on the tee box. I just know that it’s going to end up in the fairway. I’ve also worked really hard on my putting. I wasn’t putting very well a year or two ago, and I worked so hard and figured out what putter I was going to use (Scotty Cameron Phantom). I’ve had coaches tell me my putting has been the best they’ve ever seen out of me. 

What has been your most humbling moment in golf?

I try to be really humble because I know golf gives you a reality check sometimes. Last year in high school I was the number one player on the team, and my goal was to make it a team and have a really good atmosphere and make sure everyone was included, because when I was a freshman I didn’t have that. The number two, a great friend of mine (Phoenix Scanlan), took the spot from me. I didn’t play well in a tournament, and I completely understood. But it gave me some extra motivation to play better.

What is your favorite meal?

That’s a tough one because I love to eat. I would have to say chicken parmesan. My dad is a great cook, so I love when he cooks it, but if I had to choose a restaurant, I would choose Percoco’s on Lakewood Ranch Main Street.

What is your favorite TV show or movie?

I would have to say Rush Hour 2. I just love comedies and I love Jackie Chan and the actors in that movie. It’s a good mixture of action and comedy and it’s a feel-good movie you can watch with family and friends. It gives you a six pack after watching it.

What is your go-to warm-up song?

I don’t really listen to music when I’m on the driving range. I do have some good songs though. I’ve been listening to rap. I’m gonna say No Role Modelz by J. Cole.

If you’re not golfing, what are you doing?

I’m pretty active. I’ll spend time with my dog, go to the store, play pickleball, or go swimming. I like to stay pretty busy.

Who is your favorite golfer and why?

I’m gonna go with Bryson DeChambeau. I didn’t really like him in the beginning because he was a little too cocky for me, but now he’s doing well with kids and he’s been better as a person mentally. I watch him on YouTube and his entertainment is amazing. I love his personality now. I think he had a reality check and was like, ‘I can’t be like this,’ so I think he’s calmed down. I know he’s on LIV and I’m not a big LIV person, but he makes the game fun.

Finish this sentence. Emily Storm is…

Honest.