Jack Barned has been named the ITG Next 2022 Northeast Florida Male Golfer of the Year, presented by Wolfson Children’s Hospital, Baptist Health, and the Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute.
Barned is a senior at Ponte Vedra High School, where strong leadership and winning golf championships is not uncommon. The team has won five back-to-back state championship titles in a row.
“I can’t say enough good things about coach Mickey Leapley,” said Barned. “He reminds us of what is really important when we are at tournaments.”
Check out @jack_barned1 and many others in our summer issue for FREE! https://t.co/YlBlZug3fw pic.twitter.com/lX9NAmdAMo
— ITG Next – Florida (@itgnext_florida) June 21, 2021
Barned expressed that coach Leapley is always there for them throughout the season and keeps them in the right mindset.
“Right now, I am taking it one day at a time and doing what I can to get better [at playing golf],” said Barned. “I just go out there and I play my game and I see what happens.”
Barned was nervous the first time he ever competed in golf, but playing the sport is no longer nerve-racking for him. Barned shot even-par for the Qdoba Tournament of Champions, where his team won. Recently, he was excited to win yet another state championship, praising his school’s program for the standard of excellence it holds.
“Our program really has that standard of excellence where you feel the need to go out every year and win a state championship,” Barned said. “Going out and doing it again senior year was definitely really special.”
He stumbled upon the sport when he moved to Florida as a kid and fell in love with it, saying, “Florida is a great place to play golf,” Barned said.
The three-time first place finisher will be attending Bowdoin College, located in Brunswick, Maine.
Boys Golf made it 5 championships in a row today at the @fhsaa state meet. Great job boys. We are all proud of you. #finsup https://t.co/WdJwSbKBeF
— Ponte Vedra Athletics ? (@PVSHARKSsports) November 17, 2021
“It is definitely going to be a different experience up there in that part of the country,” said Barned, “but I am excited and ready to get up there.”
Barned is heavily inspired by his own teammates who he looks up to. He says they are great players who push him to be his best. He has made some great memories playing with this team to hold onto as he heads to college. He will miss driving to tournaments with his teammates and coaches.
“I appreciate them and everything they do for me,” says Barned.
He advises young golfers to get out and practice every day. The hard work will pay off.
“No matter where your technique is, any day you can go out on the golf course and shoot a good score. It’s all about your mentality and knowing what you are capable of,” says Barned.
