For the first time since 2012, Wildcat boys golf sent an athlete to the IHSA State Finals.
Senior Parker McDermott started golfing when he was around three years old and started playing competitive golf at the age of seven.
He has competed in many tournaments outside of school, making him a better golfer in-season.
“He plays golf almost year-round. He’s constantly hitting balls. So his work ethic was one of the reasons why he has had so much success,” Normal West golf coach, Matt Hoder added.
On West’s team, McDermott has competed all four of his high school years, starting as a freshman on varsity, which is a feat in itself.
McDermott is no stranger to postseason as he won the Big 12 conference his junior year and made it to the Sectional competition two out of his first three years.
However, on the biggest stage, his biggest moment of his senior season occurred when he had a long putt to birdie the last hole of the sectional competition in Joliet, Illinois.
When Parker sank this putt, he shot a 73, officially qualifying himself for the state tournament.
“It was an even bigger moment at the time than I had realized initially,” McDermott stated.
As the first state qualifier in a long 12-year drought for Normal West boys golf, Parker is proud of his accomplishment of simply qualifying.
Although the state competition was tough, McDermott will remember the experience fondly.
“It was kind of a rough go. I got sixty-fourth out of a hundred and twenty kids,” he noted.
The passion of the game, for McDermott, comes from the competitive nature, and he describes it as a “gentleman’s game.”
Though, golf is not as easy as it seems. It’s also a mental game.
“It takes a huge mental toll on you throughout the round, being able to be consistent for five to six hours straight. Getting through the mental game is hard, and that’s why I enjoy golf,” McDermott explains.
As with many sports, sometimes the biggest challenge in golf is to face yourself. However, McDermott never feels like he’s doing it alone.
Family is another thing that McDermott has valued in his golf journey.
“I’ve always wanted to chase my dad or grandpa because they’ve been good since I was younger,” he added.
When asked about people he wanted to thank, Parker responded: “My grandpa and my grandma for always coming out; they never missed a tournament for four years.”
In addition, his past teammates have been an inspiration for him because they are always trying to push each other to be better.
His coaches are also a key to his success, especially coach Hoder, who “always kept it real.”
“As a four-year varsity player, Parker has meant a lot to the team. He’s shown the younger kids how to be successful, and how to work hard and get good results. He’s steadily improved every year, and that’s really what we’re looking for in a young player,” Coach Hoder stated.
As far as his future, McDermott is not planning to continue playing golf during his college career because he wants to focus on getting stable in a new place outside of town before continuing golf.
He is considering starting back up sophomore year.
“I’ll probably try to walk on somewhere. We’ll figure that out when we get there…cross that bridge,” McDermott stated.
Golf is a very different sport that allows room for so much time and dedication to be put in, but it can end with a very rewarding outcome.
Making it all the way to state is a huge accomplishment, and McDermott should be very proud of how far he’s come.
