GRANITEVILLE (S.C.) – Savannah De Bock had more fun at the Sage Valley 2023 Junior Invitational.
The Belgian had a huge smile all week at the top junior tournament in the country. It was so obvious that she thought she won the title by a wide margin, but she actually finished in the bottom half. Have you ever walked away from a green smiling after a double-bogey? De Bock did it at most twice.
She explained that it was important for her to remain positive because there is no good in me being negative. “I am a very outgoing, positive person. If I don’t feel joyous, then what am I?”
De Bock, No. 51 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking has an infectious personality, which you cannot help but to gravitate towards. After Saturday’s final round at Sage Valley Golf Club, she was alone and eating lunch when four boys from the annual competition rushed to join her. Soon, laughter followed.
De Bock said, “I made new friends. Not only my roommates, but also other girls. That’s cool.” “I feel at home here and I will always remember the friendship spirit that existed here.
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She entertained her caddie throughout the week with songs and jokes, and held lively discussions with other players during the round about scrambled egg. De Bock moved from one event to the next, sometimes in her Gryffindor sweatshirt. This was a fitting house placement for Harry Potter fans. De Bock grabbed some chocolate cake as dessert after dinner, but couldn’t find the right fork. She grabbed some chopsticks without a second thought and continued her journey.
De Bock didn’t leave Sage Valley carrying the trophy. But she will bring home many memories, new friends, and the unofficial title of Most Fun Player for the Week.
It was amazing. It is so friendly here. De Bock expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to make many friends. The course is in great condition. “I’ve never seen a course in such great condition.” Although the greens can be difficult, it is a lot of fun. It was a great experience. Although I am disappointed with my overall score, I have learned a lot.
De Bock was impressed by Sage Valley and will be even more impressed when she travels 20 miles to Augusta for the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
She said she was “mostly excited” about her ANWA debut. “I’m a little nervous, but it’s such an important competition, but I’m looking forward it.”
De Bock is no stranger to major competitions, especially since her appearance at The Junior Invitational. De Bock won the 2022 European Ladies’ Amateur and placed 14th at The Mithra Belgian Ladies Open, which is part of the Ladies European Tour. Despite not having a TV at home, she has talked about the Masters and ANWA with Clarisse Louis, a fellow Belgian competitor.
De Bock will compete in the ANWA before heading home to Belgium. She’ll then return to Georgia in the fall, to study genetics, communication, and journalism.
It’s a wonderful place to train and I’m looking forward to it. It’s a great place to learn and study simultaneously, which is often a challenge in Europe. It’s exciting to me.
It’s easy for people to lose sight of the real essence of the game at the amateur level because of all the attention given to professional tours and the millions at stake. De Bock and other players are there to remind us.
