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Golf can be quite a lonely sport. Often, it’s just a player and his thoughts on the course. As just one of two golfers at LaGrange Academy, Walker Rockwell knows that experience all too well. The senior made a massive breakthrough this season and qualified for the GIAA state tournament for the first time, finishing as the Region 1-2A runner-up. 

“A couple of years ago, I really started to improve my game and started taking the sport more seriously, playing in more tournaments,” Rockwell said. “Ever since then, I’ve set my mind to qualifying for state.”

Rockwell was ever so close to winning the region championship. The senior led heading into the final three holes, but ended up falling behind and finishing as the runner-up.

There was a hint of disappointment after those three holes, but it quickly subsided. Rockwell missed the cut by one stroke last season and went into the region tournament in Griffin this season with one goal in mind: make the cut for state.

“I was really, really disappointed to miss the cut by one stroke last year, so to come back and do it this year felt really, really good,” he said. 

The LaGrange Academy golf team only made it to two tournaments this season (Rockwell plays tournaments outside of the GIAA season as well), but they were both memorable experiences for Rockwell. What makes those experiences stand out so heavily in his mind is the fact that he got to golf alongside his best friend and fellow LaGrange Academy Warrior, Andrew Knight. 

“We’ve known each other our whole lives, he’s been my best friend since I was like five years old,” Rockwell said, sitting forward in his chat with excitement. “If it’s a serious tournament, we will go out there and lock in, but if it’s not, we will go out there and joke around and mess around with each other, it’s great.”

When Rockwell wants to go get 9 or 18 holes in on the weekend, his first call is to Knight. The duo has played the Highlands Country Club course more times than they can remember, and if it’s a nice weekend, there is a good chance you can find the two together on the course. 

“My grandma lives right by the course and we are members there, so I probably play over 100 rounds there a year,” he said, chuckling. 

Rockwell has played just about every sport under the sun during his time with the Warriors, but his heart has always been with golf and soccer. Now, on the eve of both of those seasons wrapping at LaGrange Academy, Walker ponders what could be next.

“Right now, I have two DIII offers for golf, and the Point coach has been talking to me a lot about possibly coming down and playing,” Rockwell said. “I’m not really sure what I want to do yet, but it’s nice to have options.”

No matter where the next step in his journey takes him, one thing is for certain: Rockwell is a Warrior for life. He will be representing the school one final time in blue and orange at the state tournament on April 28 at Harbor Club at Lake Oconee in Greensboro. 

“I’m not going there with huge expectations,” Rockwell said. “If I can go out there and shoot about 80, that should be good enough to finish top-20 or maybe even top-15.”