Athlete focus: All Par for the Course

“I had always hit balls on the range with my father and, after the 8^th grade, I began to practice and got lessons to play for Armijo’s team,” said Robert “Bobby” Thornson. “I used to play a number of other sports, but I focus on golf now. I hope to go to UCLA and play golf for them, but we will have to wait and see.”

While he doesn’t have any plans to go professional, he does dream of getting the famed green jacket that could be earned in the Masters’ Tournament. His most memorable game in high school was the last one in his sophomore year, “before our seniors of our team graduated and our Coach Anderson left,” he said.

“Armijo Golf has been a great experience for me, especially as it has allowed me to play one of the time’s most tested and difficult sports. I strongly suggest it to all students not involved in sports or those who find themselves interested. Golf has always been perceived, especially by youth, as boring when it really is an enjoyable sport,” Thornson said.

While he is passionate about it, Thornson has several other interests, too. “I am in plenty of clubs as well as run my own with Armijo Stanzas. I love to write poetry and be creative, listen to jazz music and talk about pop culture,” he said. “I hope to go into film studies in a creative or cinematography aspect.”

Thornson is the oldest of five children. He has three sisters – Hailey, 15; Alyza, 14 and Mary Ellen, 12 – and one younger brother – Presley, 3.