Junior golf star Katelyn Rika makes move to United States

TERRITORY junior golf star Katelyn Rika has taken the next big step in her golfing career after she joined up with the Oral Roberts University Golden Eagles Women’s golf team in Tulsa, Oklahoma in the United States

Katelyn Rika after winning the 2020 Schweppes Darwin Open. Photo: SUPPLIED

TERRITORY junior golf star Katelyn Rika has taken the next big step in her golfing career after she joined up with the Oral Roberts University Golden Eagles Women’s golf team in Tulsa, Oklahoma in the United States.

The 18-year-old from remote Gove started playing at the age of eight, picking it up after a neck injury forced her to stop playing her previous sport of tennis.

It was then that her uncle, Kenny Gentle, convinced her to give junior golf in Gove a try, starting her passion and long-term commitment to the sport.

Rika took part in her first competition at the age of eight heading to Darwin in the June-July holidays, in titles she would partake in for the next eight years, eventually winning the 2015, 2017 and 2018 NT Junior Masters Titles.

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Since then the Nhulunbuy native has taken part in numerous competitions across Australia, including NT representative events and the Australia Amateurs in January 2020, and has been the No. 1-ranked NT female golfer since 2018.

But it was her first win in the Gove Amateur Open at the age of 11 in 2013 that remains her most proud achievement and a moment that she will never forget. The opportunity to ply her trade in the US came about in 2014 when Rika made contact with IAM360, an Australian recruiting company that helps young people find academics and athletics scholarships in America.

“I couldn’t be more excited to be here (in America). I was anxious and nervous at first and the eight-day leaving period didn’t help there but the excitement overruled that by far,” Rika told the NT News.

“I didn’t even think about the possibility of coming to the US for college golf until we found IAM360.

“We decided to give it a try and after the first call I knew that this was what I wanted to do.”

From the first call with IAM360, Rika knew it was what she wanted and in September 2019 she was sent an offer for college golf in the USA that she could not refuse.

The original plan was to head over in July 2020, but coronavirus saw that delayed for several weeks until Rika managed to apply for an emergency visa which gave her a small window to leave for America.

Katelyn Rika after winning the 2018 NT Junior Masters.

The show of perseverance is among the reasons she got picked up for the scholarship with IAM360, prospect director Matt Wade saying an opportunity such as Rika’s was not given out by chance.

“Scholarships of this magnitude are not handed out by chance, and are earned as a result of incredible dedication to both a student’s academics and sport,” he said.

Now at Oral Roberts University, Rika hopes to improve her game even further with her eyes set firmly on one day becoming an LPGA professional, travelling the world playing in lucrative tournaments.

“The college is amazing, the buildings are so beautiful with the vibe and atmosphere only adding to that. The golf facility is also amazing,” she said.

“I have definitely been placed in an environment that I believe I can thrive in and I can’t help but know my golf will improve immensely.”

Many figures have played a role in her fledgling career, with Cairns-based PGA Member Graham Bolton acting as her golf coach and NSW-based David Barracosa as her sports psychologist.

Each has helped build her game alongside many others, from her parents Esther and Johnny, to PGA coach James Pratt, who saw potential in her golf at the 2011 NT Junior Masters.

“My favourite part of the game is my driving, which I am extremely confident with and something I can always rely on,” Rika said.

“I am definitely looking at improving my putting as it is a weak point which I have good or bad days with.

“A large part of golf is mental and I believe that’s an area I may struggle with. It’s the difference between five over and five under so for about a year now I have worked with Barracosa to improve this part of my game.”

Rika rates three-time major winner and 2015 FedEx Cup Champion Jordan Spieth as her favourite golfer.

John Daly is also a favourite for his long drives and crazy colour pants, while Jason Day, Minjee Lee and Lydia Ko are all also idols of hers.

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But with her eyes set on becoming a professional herself some day, Rika hopes to also be an inspiration to young girls growing up in remote communities as she did, proving that wherever you come from you can achieve your dreams

“Golf is one of my greatest passions and I want to spend the rest of my life playing it,” Rika said.

“I want it to be a successful career which means winning majors and ranking high on the professional leaderboard.

“I want to use this next four years to my advantage to help my goal, but also make sure that I do not waste this opportunity so that I have the best time I can.”