Shortly before teeing off in the opening round of the Future Masters Golf Tournament in Dothan, Ala., Bridgeport’s Mason Williams was calm, cool and collected. He looked forward to the first-time experience he was afforded via invitation. Each opportunity is a good one – and another step in his passionate aspiration to one day turn pro.

 

But first things first.

 

An upcoming Bridgeport High School senior, Williams looks forward to the 2017 golf season under Coach Fred Wilhelm – his eye on a team state championship. And after that, Williams – who has been a local standout on the course since he was a young boy – has already set the wheels in motion for his college golf career.

 

After graduating BHS in May of 2018, Williams will attend Division I Georgia Southern University, studying business and being part of the Eagles golf program.

 

It's a stellar opportunity for him, Wilhelm said.

 

 

Just Tuesday, Williams made his decision official with a verbal commitment. After also considering West Virginia University and the University of Maryland, he decided upon Georgia Southern, citing the coaching staff as one of the determining factors.

 

“The coaches down there are second to none; definitely some of my favorite people I met,” he said. “I’m really confident they can help me grow my golf game – and my personality and character.”

 

But there were other reasons, too.

 

“I just like the way the school feels. It’s not a small school – there are close to 25,000 or more students – but when you walk around campus, it feels like a smaller school and like there’s a little more individualization,” Williams said. “I just love it all – the courses and the practice facility they have there.”

 

And certainly a factor in his decision to go south is the year-round climate.

 

“I visited there in January and it was 75 and sunny,” he said.

SGU Coach Carter Collins first saw Williams play on the final day of the 2016 WVSSAC Class AA golf tournament at Oglebay Park in Wheeling. On the first day, Williams had shot a 79. The day Collins flew in from Georgia to watch Williams' game in person, he shot a 75. He wound up as low medalist runner-up and led the Indians to an overall fourth place finish.

 

“(Collins) actually had to leave right after I finished so he could catch a flight back to Georgia, so I didn’t get to talk to him face-to-face at all that day. But right after I finished playing, he called me and we had a conversation. I didn’t feel like I had played well at all at states, but he still said he was impressed with my game. He also knew I didn’t play my best, but he liked all my potential I had and how I played,” Williams said.

 

Williams has had some big moments during his high school golf career. Included is this past September when he led BHS in a 163-174 win over the Morgantown Mohigans at Bridgeport Country Club. He shot a 29; birdying seven of the nine holes and parring the other two. Coach Fred Wilhelm called the performance phenomenal and said it was the best round of golf he’d witnessed during his 15 years of coaching.

 

"He actually just missed an eagle putt on number nine or the score would have been better,” said Wilhelm during a September 2016 interview. “He's the best I've ever had. He just understands the game, the concept and the approach of golf."

 

Wilhelm knew he had something special coming to the Indian golf team when in 2014, Williams won the 13-14-year-old division of the West Virginia Junior Amateur Golf Tournament at Sleepy Hollow Golf Club in Hurricane. He shot a 145 to earn the one-stroke victory.

 

 

The golfer’s personal best high school memory to date is capturing top individual honors in the 2015 Class AA state championship. That year, he shared the spotlight with teammate Marco Oliverio who was runner-up medalist and Wilhelm, named coach of the year.

 

Wilhelm has done a lot to improve Williams’ game. The future Eagle said it’s what Wilhelm has instilled mentally that has made the biggest difference.

 

“It’s the confidence,” he said. “I think everybody else kind of sees that I have a bunch of ability, but it’s kind of hard for me to see it myself. Sometimes Coach has to tell me I did a good job – or that I’m the best player here – and why can’t I think that myself and go out there and play. When I believe in myself, it’s a lot easier to go out there and have fun.”

 

Technically, Williams has done a little self-evaluating about his game.

 

“Definitely the best part are my ball strikes – my irons and wedges,” he said. “My putting is improvement. It’s not bad, but a little inconsistent.”

 

Without the luxury of year-round “sunny and 75” weather in North Central West Virginia, Williams still keeps in top golf shape.

 

“I try to play a lot of basketball in the winter to stay active and in shape for when I have to walk 18 holes,” he said. “And I hit the golf ball at indoor ranges and even practice putting in my bedroom all the time. It’s hard to chip around and get the feel that way, but it helps.”

 

During the high school off-season, Williams plays individually during summers. Just last week, he played in the Southern Junior Golf Tournament in Alexander City, Ala, tying for fifth place. Today, he continues play at the Junior Masters; his division of play involving athletes age 18 and under.

 

 

Entering his senior year of BHS golf, it’s nice to have his collegiate decision made.

 

“It’s a little bit of pressure off, but I still have to play well,” he said.

 

And that he certainly aspires to do – for himself, but more so for the Tribe, he said.

 

Editor's Note: Photos are by Ben Queen Photography.