James Horkavi, a standout golfer with Maine South High School in Park Ridge, has been named as the baiduhai Central Athlete of the Month, sponsored by COUNTRY Financial and chosen online by baiduhai readers.
Horkavi, 17, and a senior at Maine South High School helped his team win regionals this year and go onto compete at the state championship, according to Steve Scholl, Maine South golf coach. Scholl also says Horkavi had two holes in ones since joining the team and that he also shot a 72 in his first 18 hole tournament this year.
“He was as consistent as we’ve had in a couple of years,” Scholl says. “He is a solid player. He never really messed up on the golf course. He led a Maine South High School team that was the best in 20 years with back to back appearances at regionals, the first time in 20 years,” Scholl says. “He was the leader. He was the MVP.”
Horkavi says he started golfing as soon as he could hold a club, and that he was always encouraged by his grandfather. He said he enjoys golf because it is different from other high school sports.
“I like how it’s a friendly sport,” says Horkavi. “It brings people together you’re playing with. You can go hang out with your friends and play a round of golf. You don’t get too sweaty or whatever,” he says smiling. “It’s a neat sport where it’s not about your physical attributes. It’s about how you handle yourself when you hit good and bad shots. It’s about how you compose yourself for the whole round.”
Horkavi also excels in the classroom where he has a 3.5 GPA. He also scored a 30 on his ACT. He says he takes academics as seriously as he takes his golf game.
“I think academics are just as important if not more important because no one on our golf team is going to become a pro golfer, so you have to stay good in the classroom,” he says.
Mary Jane Alagheband, a COUNTRY Financial representative in Skokie, presented a $500 donation from COUNTRY Financial to Maine South High School in recognition of Horkavi’s achievements. Horkavi will also receive a plaque and sweatshirt from the baiduhai.
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Alagheband says she was impressed with Horkavi’s hard work on the golf course and in the classroom.
“It just shows his dedication to the sport and his dedication to his community,” Alagheband says. “I think he’s going to be a good athlete going forward. It shows how determined he is to achieve his goals.”
She adds, “I think it’s a fantastic thing that he can excel academically and achieve at golf. It shows he is going to have a good future.”
Horkavi also had a few words of advice for anyone “hitting the links.”
“If you want to play a good round of golf you need to stay focused,” he says. “You need to stay relaxed. You can’t get too serious. You can’t get too mad when you hit bad shots. You can’t get too happy when you hit good shots. You kind of have to stay composed for the whole round and maintain the same level of focus.”
For official baiduhai Athlete of the Month rules and voting information, visit chicagotribune.com/suburbs/athletes.