WAWOTA - Born and raised in Wawota, 19-year-old Theoren West has had a golf club in his hands since he was three.
The son of Rob and Kyla West, he is also the grandson of Kelly and Wendy Greenbank and Gord and Mona West.
West graduated from Wawota Parkland School in 2021. That fall, he was awarded a golf scholarship to Bellevue University near Omaha, Neb., where he just completed his first year of university. Bellevue started its golf program in 2011 and last year the men’s team was ranked third in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
West has entered many tournaments and competitions over the years and won the Saskatchewan high school provincial title in 2019. Last year, nationals were held in Montreal and West placed an impressive 19th overall.
No longer considered a junior, his next event is the Saskatchewan Amateur Men’s Championship. This competition ran from July 12-15 at the Cooke Municipal Golf Course in Prince Albert.
Since 2020, West’s golf coach has been Jeff Chambers, who lives and teaches in Swift Current. West visits him monthly and keeps in regular weekly contact.
This summer, West is employed as a maintenance man for Golf Kenosee. With regular working hours from 6 a.m.-2:00 p.m., it leaves West the entire afternoon to tinker with his game. He alternates teeing it up from either the blues or the blacks virtually every day.
West has a handicap of 3.6, which is impressive for a man his age. He is six feet tall and weighs 170 pounds. He can drive a ball 300 yards. West’s entire set of golf clubs are made by Titleist. His preferred ball is the Pro V1X.
West is a polite and modest young man.
“Ball striking is my strength and I feel I am a good putter and chipper,” said West. “I must continue to improve my mental game. Practice makes perfect.”
West also wishes to thank his many family and friends that have supported him over the years, especially his grandfather Kelly Greenbank.
“Grandpa has been there for me since I was a little kid and I owe him everything. He pumps me up and keeps me focused.”
At this time, he is unsure about what he will be doing this fall. But one thing is for certain, his set of golf clubs will be following him wherever he goes.
