By Kevin Perrington-Turner, Contributing Writer
(Photo/submitted)
SHREWSBURY – Addison Cutting, 12, of Shrewsbury is a golf champion after she won the New England PGA Junior Tour last month.
Held at Highfields Golf and Country Club in Grafton on Aug. 25 and 26, the two day event saw Cutting beat second place finisher Reva Machanavajhula with a two-stroke advantage.
Westborough’s Sophie Kamil also cracked the leaderboard, finishing in fourth place.
This win capped a busy summer for Cutting, who spent the months preceding this tournament busy working on her game. She’s played around New England, which has allowed her to qualify for regional and national play.
Golf journey takes inspiration from pro-golf duo
(Photo/submitted)
Cutting self identifies as a competitive person.
She’s won nine 1st place medals and notched one previous 2nd place finish in the New England PGA Junior Tour. She was the 2021 Haven Country Club Jr. Club Champion and recently tied one of the state’s top ranked players in the Massachusetts Girls Jr. Amateur tournament, among other things.
When asked about her love for the sport, Cutting mentioned her sister and her support system as sources of inspiration to develop her game. She also noted Nelly and Jessica Korda, sisters who both recently rose to the upper echelon of the golf world.
“I was watching the LPGA and I was like ‘Wow, they can play really good,’” Cutting said. “My sister plays, and we could be the next Korda sisters.”
Cutting continued to praise her sister, Olivia.
“My sister is amazing,” she said. “I really look up to her.”
Coach praises golfer’s professionalism
Coach Matt Burke has been coaching Cutting for over five years. He saw the potential in her as a player when she first started taking classes.
As time went on, he’s since seen her grow to be one of the best players in the region.
“Coaching Addison is such a fantastic experience,” Burke said. “She’s a fireball and is always looking to learn and get better.”
Part of the process of getting better, Burke said, has been a total shift to now golf in a left-handed position.
When Cutting started, he recalled, Cutting golfed in a right-handed stance. Learning that she played hockey with a left-handed stick, though, Burke worked to make the adjustment.
“She takes instruction better than any 12-year old I have ever seen,” Burke said. “The ceiling is endless for her ability to grow as a player in the game of golf on and off the course. She will do great things in life.”
“She knows how to win and get the job done in a professional way and conducts herself way above her age,” Burke said.
