LEAGUE CITY — For years, Curtis Donahoe has spent the majority of his free time on the golf course.
At this week’s Class 5A state championship tournament in Austin, he’ll get a chance to turn all that hard work into some gold hardware.
Donahoe was the lone golfer from Galveston County to qualify for the University Interscholastic League state golf championship, after finishing in second place at the Region III-5A tournament last month. He shot one-over par at regionals, behind only Memorial’s Cory Whitsett.
He’ll tee off for the two-day event at Jimmy Clay Golf Course on Thursday.
“It’s pretty cool,” said the Clear Creek senior. “Hopefully I can play well out there and have a shot at winning.”
For Donahoe, making the state tournament was a little bittersweet. He had hoped Creek could qualify as a team.
His teammates will be there, but only to support him as he goes for the state crown.
“It was tough when I found out the team didn’t qualify,” Donahoe said. “I wanted to be happy (about finishing second overall), but those first couple of days, I was like, ‘This is a bummer.’”
Donahoe said the support his teammates have shown has gotten him pumped up for the state tournament. Of course, according to Creek golf coach Glen McWhorter, it doesn’t take much to motivate Donahoe.
“He is one of those self-made kids,” McWhorter said. “He put in the time and all that it takes to do it. No one had to push him to be great — he did it on his own.”
Donahoe said he spends around 28 hours a week on the course. While he doesn’t feature as much power as some of his competition, he’s made up for that with his short game. Donahoe said he’s confident he can sink any putt from 10 feet.
His skills certainly haven’t gone unnoticed up until now. Donahoe has already committed to North Texas, where he hopes to turn around its golf program.
“North Texas hasn’t been that great in the past, but they’ve hired a new coach and he’s going to build a good program,” Donahoe said. “It will be fun to be a part of building the program.”
Before heading to North Texas, Donahoe will look to close out his high school career on a high note. Donahoe has only played the Jimmy Clay Course once (a practice round on Thursday), but is still hopefully he can turn in a pair of 65s in the tournament to capture the championship.
Count McWhorter as one of Donahoe’s believers.
“He’s going to win it,” McWhorter said. “We aren’t going to drive down there to finish second. He has the ability to do it, and I think he will.”
