MONROE — Harlow Swank is 11 years old.
If she repeats as champion of the La-Z-Boy Junior Open at Green Meadows Golf Course at this week, the number of golf tournaments she has won in her career will be double her age.
After finishing the La-Z-Boy, she is headed to one of the country’s most famous golf courses — Pinehurst in North Carolina — to play for a world championship July 31-Aug. 2.
She already had become a brand ambassador for Greyson Clothiers out of Detroit. She wears their apparel for all of her tournaments.
It hasn’t taken long for the Newport St. Charles student to become a local legend on the links.
“It’s a fun sport,” she said.
Any sport is a lot more fun when you win.
She has won 19 times on the Southeast Michigan US Kids Tour along with titles last summer in the Sandy Creek Junior Tournament and the La-Z-Boy.
She had the lowest score overall in the Sandy Creek event, which included high school golfers.
She shot personal-bests of 34 for 9 holes and 79 for 18 to finish 50 strokes ahead of anyone else in the 12-under division of the La-Z-Boy a year ago.
Harlow still is eligible for that division this summer, but is moving up to 14-under so that she can shoot 18 holes each day.
The 47th annual La-Z-Boy Junior Open will be held July 22-23.
“We’ve asked the La-Z-Boy organizers to move her up to 14u so she can play from the same tees as the older girls,” said her father, Tim Swank. “This is to challenge her and see if she can hang with the best in the area regardless of age.”
Harlow doesn’t act her age on the course.
She recently competed against her father and two of his brothers on a family trip to California. Beating dad was nothing new.
“That has been happening for a couple of years,” he admitted.
The round was an eye-opener for his brothers, who are avid golfers.
“They were surprised,” Harlow said with a shy smile.
Tim was not surprised at all.
“When she’s on the golf course, she’s a full-blown adult,” he said. “She can have a conversation with anyone.”
Harlow’s golf journey began at the age of six.
“My dad handed me a set of clubs and told me to start swinging,” she said.
Tim had strayed away from the game for a few years while starting a family. He immediately spotted the potential in his middle daughter, but tried to keep it low key.
“She is very natural in the way she moves the club,” he said. “We started out by going out to Big Al’s (Greens and Grille in Newport). We would drive around, hit the ball and eat candy.”
Soon afterward, Tim asked his daughter if she wanted a golf coach. She quickly took him up on the offer.
Harlow won her first tournament at the age of 7.
Ironically, neither older sister Channing nor younger brother Fitzgerald have much interest in golf.
What is the strongest part of Harlow’s game?
“Probably my driver,” she said. “Sometimes it’s off, but it’s usually pretty good. My farthest is 213 (yards). I am usually around 180.”
Video: La-Z-Boy Junior Open at Green Meadows Golf Course
Grant Simpson, Thomas Rivard (white hat) and Tyler Toth (green hat) put on the 13th green during the La-Z-Boy Junior Open on Wednesday, July 24, 2024.
She will be competing in the US Kids World Championships at Pinehurst for the second time. It features golfers from 50 countries ages 5-12.
“It’s three days, 18 holes each day,” Tim said. “They have a parade of nations at the start. It’s really cool.”
Harlow picked the Sandy Creek Tournament over the world championships last summer. She placed 80th in 2023.
“I like the big tournaments,” she said.
She already has acquired a golf nickname.
“They call me Triple H,” she said.
What does that stand for?
“Hard-hitting Harlow,” she said.
Harlow’s unique first name is a tribute to iconic movie star Jean Harlow.
“Her name is Harlow Jean,” Tim said. “My wife (Rachel) came up with that. We call her Lo.”
A perfect name for a girl who always seems to have low scores on the golf course.
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